TIL Desk Sports/ Barcelona forward Neymar said he is “not going to die” if he fails to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or and maintained that he plays the game of football to be happy, not for individual honours. In an interview published on the official La Liga website on Sunday, Neymar said he was unconcerned at not being named as one of three finalists for football’s highest individual award this year.
“It’s obvious that (the Ballon d’Or) is a source of motivation, but I’m not going to die if I don’t win it,” the 24-year-old Brazilian said. Neymar was a Ballon d’Or finalist for the first time last year, eventually missing out to teammate Lionel Messi, who claimed the prize for a fifth time. The 2016 award will be contested by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann, with the winner to be announced next month.
“Above all, I want to be happy and at Barcelona I’m happy,” Neymar said. “If I don’t win the Ballon d’Or nothing will change. I don’t play football for that. I play to be happy. Only one player can win it.” Neymar said Barcelona are upbeat about their chances of winning La Liga this season, despite being three points behind Real Madrid, who also have a game in hand.
