Neymar Jr. Surprises the Winners of the French Leg in Paris

The Brazilian athlete visited the two national winning teams last Friday (22), ahead of this year’s Red Bull Neymar Jr’s Five world final. While teams around the world continue their journey to secure a coveted spot in the Red Bull Neymar Jr’s Five world final in Qatar, two of last week’s successful qualifiers received a very special surprise when Neymar Jr visited them in Paris.

Having already secured their spots in the final of this unique five-on-five tournament—which features 10-minute matches without goalkeepers and teams losing a player every time the opposition scores a goal—the French national champions didn’t think things could get any better.

But last Friday, the Eighteen Hills, winners of the mixed category, joined Fusion, the women’s champions, at their field in Paris’s 18th arrondissement for a previously scheduled photo shoot. They could hardly believe their eyes when the Brazilian and PSG legend showed up to kick the ball around.

“I still can’t believe it, but this is incredible—he’s on our field with us, and he’s coming right toward us. It’s unbelievable,” said one of the Eighteen Hills team members, in disbelief.

In addition to providing an unforgettable experience for the players, it was also a chance for Neymar Jr. to get a sneak peek at the two teams that will be competing in his exclusive tournament this season, and he was certainly impressed by what he saw:

“I was impressed by both teams—not only by their skills, but also by their personalities. I can’t wait to see them play in the World Final,” said Neymar Jr. after playing soccer with both teams.

For Eighteen Hills, this was the icing on the cake after overcoming so many challenges to earn a spot in Qatar. This talented group not only had to defeat France’s best five-on-five teams, but they also fought to keep their soccer field open after local residents signed a petition to tear down the site. “We never gave up, and being here is a great reward. The next few days are going to be incredible,” said the Eighteen Hills team.

The Fusion team felt an extra boost of motivation after the surprise: “We were already really motivated before, but now, playing a short game with Neymar Jr. has made us even more determined to win the final and play with him.”

The talent, perseverance, and dedication shown by these two teams earned them a well-deserved spot in the Red Bull Neymar Jr.’s Five, where the prize for the winners will be an opportunity to play a match against the Brazilian celebrity and a handpicked team of top-level teammates.

Eighteen Hills and Fusion have already gotten a taste of what this is all about, and now both teams will travel to Qatar in high spirits and hungry for more.