'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAX/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACA//aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAm0hy/8QAHhAAAQQCAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDERMAIRVBUmH/2gAIAQEAAT8A4xpTtJJK6kLsJPswInqMhwauXr7n/8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEgABBP/aAAgBAgEBPwDZZJn/xAAaEQABBQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAMRIVHR/9oACAEDAQE/AGBIveL/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Al-Hilal striker Neymar Junior commented on a picture of himself with a younger version of his compatriot Rodrygo Goes, who plays for Real Madrid. The two play together for the Brazil national team.
Rodrygo, 23, is one of game's brightest young talents and has been a key player for Los Blancos since arriving in the summer of 2019. In 227 games across competitions, he has tallied 100 goal contributions, comprising 57 goals and 43 assists.
That includes 17 goals and nine assists in 51 games across competitions last season as Carlo Ancelotti's side won three trophies, including the La Liga-UEFA Champions League double.
Meanwhile, Neymar has been recuperating from a torn ACL suffered during international duty with Brazil in 2023 and hasn't played competitively in nearly a year. The all-time Selecao top scorer reacted to Rodrygo's Instagram story of an image of himself with Neymar, with the latter commenting (as translated from Portuguese):
"We make our dreams come true"
Rodrygo has been a regular for Brazil since his senior international debut in a 1-0 friendly loss at Argentina in November 2019.
He has seven goals and an assist in 30 games for the five-time world champions. Rodrygo's most recent goal for the Selecao was the winner in a 1-0 home win over Ecuador in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in September this year.
How has Neymar fared against Real Madrid?
Neymar has a decent record against Real Madrid during his time with Barcelona in La Liga and subsequently with Paris Saint-Germain. In 12 appearances across competitions, the 32-year-old has three goals and seven assists.
All three goals and five of those assists came in seven outings in the Spanish top flight, with Barca winning four of those games and losing twice. Neymar is scoreless in four UEFA Champions League games with Los Blancos but has provided two assists, winning once and losing twice.
In his lone Copa del Rey meeting with Real Madrid, Neymar didn't produce a goal contribution as Barcelona lost 2-1 at home in the 2013-14 edition of the domestic cup competition.
Overall, Neymar has won five of his 12 games with Los Blancos, losing as many. His last meeting against them came in the 2021-22 edition of the UEFA Champions League. Neymar provided assists in both legs as PSG won 1-0 at home but lost 3-1 away, squandering a 2-0 aggregate lead, to bow out.
