July 7 and 8 were special days at the Neymar Jr. Project Institute. All eyes were on the facility’s field, where 53 teams from different countries and exactly 341 players took part in the finals of the second edition of Neymar Jr.’s Five.
The event was yet another result of the partnership—now in its seventh year—between NR Sports and Red Bull. According to the brand’s Sports Director, who was responsible for the event’s organization, the concept for Neymar Jr.’s Five came about while thinking about how to recapture the way star player Neymar Jr. used to play soccer before he began his professional career. “When we put everything together, we thought: How did Neymar Jr. start playing? He played with his friends. It was fun; it was like a competition,” he says. As for the competition’s strategy and format, he says he took into account “How do you overcome your opponent? How did you get past him and all the strength he displayed on the field, day after day?”
For Hurtle, the event should be a “big soccer celebration and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” since it’s not every day that you get the chance to see Neymar Jr. play—and, especially, to play against him. That’s because the prize for the winners was the chance to play a friendly match against Neymar Jr. and his “buddies,” as well as to watch an FC Barcelona game live in Spain at Camp Nou. “Neymar Jr. is a huge influence around the world. Because of the way he plays and his values regarding his family. They provide education, and I think the family gives the people here something truly great. And that’s valuable. It’s really wonderful. They can be proud of that. When I first arrived, I saw the Institute and thought it was absolutely fantastic. Here, people can really learn and thrive. It’s fantastic to have this Institute here in Praia Grande,” he adds.
On Friday (the 7th), there were more than 100 games, which began in the morning and lasted into the evening.
On Saturday (the 8th), the grand final brought Neymar Jr.’s Five to a spectacular close. Throughout the day, the teams faced off in 32 hard-fought matches, each showing great determination to win, until the final game, where Romania and England faced off to decide the champion. And the team that came out on top was Romania’s Tao United, which won 1–0 and said they were very happy for the opportunity. In addition to fulfilling their dream of taking the field against Neymar Jr., the boys also received the trophy directly from the player himself.
He, who watched the games from the stands alongside his friends and family, was very pleased with the event: “I’m happy to host the second edition of Neymar Jr.’s Five here at the Institute, and to welcome players from all over the world to the city and the neighborhood where I grew up.”
