Neymar Shares Incredible Gesture Made By Diego Maradona When Meeting Him As A Teenager

Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar has recalled a heartfelt interaction with Argentine legend Diego Maradona when he met him as a teenager.

Maradona tragically passed away last month at the age of 60 after he suffered a heart attack at his Buenos Aires home.

The football world has been mourning the loss of Maradona, who is widely considered as one of the best players in the history of the sport.

Neymar, 28, paid tribute to the 1986 World Cup winner on Instagram and also wore a shirt with Maradona's face on it during a pre-match training session.

Now, the Brazilian winger has opened up about the time that he met Maradona as a teenager and travelled with him on the bus to a Brazil vs Argentina match.

And Neymar revealed how the former Napoli star warmly embraced him on the bus ride to the stadium, as well as inviting him into Argentina's locker room and onto the field for a photo.

"I had just a few contacts with Maradona, but I'll never forget the one when I was 12 or 13 years old," he told Eleven Sports.

"I was just starting at Santos and I went to watch a show match between Brazil and Argentina -- a game between former players.

"As the Brazilian team's bus were already full, I couldn't go with them, so they put me onto Argentina's bus. There were two guys highlighted in there because they were sitting in the first seats: they were [Alejandro] Mancuso and Maradona.

"So, they put me alongside them and treated me very well. So well that, when we arrived in the stadium, they took me to Argentina's locker room and onto the field.

"I even have a photo with Maradona, from when I was a little. He called me over to take that picture. I'll never forget his gesture.

"On the pitch, he was an icon for everybody, sure. For me as well, but I've always respected him as an athlete and as a footballer. I will never forget that."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football News, Paris Saint-Germain, Football, Ligue 1, PSG, Neymar, Diego Maradona

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz is a journalist for SPORTbible. He studied for a B.A. in History at the University of York and followed it up with an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism at MMU. Before he started writing about sports, he spent over four years in the gaming press. He has worked for several publications, including Hardcore Gamer, LADbible and the Manchester Evening News. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is working on next. Got a story tip for Adnan? Email him: [email protected]

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