Lionel Messi admits it is a ‘pleasure’ to play alongside Neymar

Barcelona beat Santos 4-0 int he 2011 Club World Cup final in Japan
Neymar played for the Brazilians that day as Lionel Messi scored twice
Messi explains he has seen Neymar grow as a player and a person

Published:
16:03 GMT, 14 December 2015

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Updated:
16:13 GMT, 14 December 2015

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Lionel Messi has enjoyed watching Barcelona team-mate Neymar grow into one of the best players in the world four years after sharing a pitch with the Brazilian in the 2011 Club World Cup.

The last time the Spanish giants appeared in the competition was 2011 and Messi’s Barcelona beat Neymar’s Santos 4-0 in Japan to win it for the second time.

At 19, Neymar was already a regular fixture in the Santos first team but it was Messi who stole the show with a brace against the Brazilian side.

Lionel Messi (right) and Neymar battle for possession during the 2011 Club World Cup final in 2011

Neymar was already a regular first team player for Santos at 19 and went on to join Messi at Barcelona

Messi says he has watched Neymar grow as a player and as a person since that match four years ago

Back in the same country, Messi and Neymar will be team-mates hoping to add the Club World Cup to a 2015 trophy haul that includes La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League and UEFA Super Cup.

And Messi described it as a privilege to play alongside his South American team-mate.

‘A lot of time’s gone by since then and I’ve witnessed his enormous growth, both as a footballer and as a person,’ Messi told FIFA.com.

Messi, who scored a free kick at the weekend, unleashes a ferocious left-footed effort in training on Monday

Messi watches on during training as Barcelona team-mate Suarez trains in the background in Yokohama

‘Back then he was already a really great player and now he’s even more so, he’s much more complete. Truthfully, it’s a pleasure and a privilege to have him alongside us now.’

Messi insists the club World Cup is one of his favourite competitions to play in and is eager to cap another stellar year with another trophy.

‘It’s a really nice competition, one of my favourites. Both because of its importance but also due to what it signifies: having won the Champions League [to qualify]. And it gives you the opportunity to round off the year in the best possible way.’