Neymar gave an interview to 'globoesporte' and made it clear what his goals are for 2020: to reach the Champions League final with PSG, at least, and to win the Copa America again with the Brazilian national team. He also chose four stars he would have liked to play with.
The footballer had a very busy summer. After trying his best to find a way back to Barcelona, PSG's refusal meant he had to stay in France. However, this has not taken away his ambition.
When asked about his goals for 2020, he said: "My biggest expectation is to win as much as I can with Paris and the Brazilian national team. To seek new challenges, to reach the Champions League final, to win the Copa America again... These are the challenges I intend to achieve in 2020".
But is there a real chance of winning European glory? "There might be. It's the year in which we are most prepared, strongest in every way: we have a chance, yes. Even if PSG has never won the Champions League, we will fight for everything," he said.
"We know about our quality, our squad and obviously we hope that we can be there among the candidates after all," he added. It is clear, therefore, that his attempt to leave PSG has not changed his appetite for winning and trying his best.
He's been in the elite for a long time now and he chose the defender who has been hardest to beat: "I've never been afraid of anything: I have respect. I always talk about Sergio Ramos, who is one of the best defenders I have ever faced and I respect him a lot for everything he has done in football."
Do any goalkeepers scare you? "No. One of the qualities I have, and which no striker can do without, is not to be afraid of the goalkeeper. Every striker has to try to face the goalkeeper all the time in the game in order to score. The more times I can face him, the better it is for me."
"There's one I've always been a fan of since I was little, and that's Marcos. He's one of the few people I've had the chance to face and I was able to score against him. I cherish that memory a lot," he finally revealed, naming a goalkeeper.
He was also asked to choose a retired or non-retired player he would like to have played with: "Only one? Romario is one of them; Ronaldo, even if I played in his farewell game; Zidane and Ibrahimovic" His choices were striking, especially for Zlatan.
What if he had to put together a team for the Red Bull Neymar's Five? "Of those who are still active: Messi, Suarez, Mbappe, Pogba and Hazard. Of those already retired: Xavi, Lampard, Gerrard, Beckham and Henry. Two dream quintets for any coach.
He took the opportunity to analyze how Rodrygo and Vinicius are doing: "They are among the best. They are showing this in Madrid and I hope they can win and enjoy European football. They have only been around a short time: they will gain experience, mature a bit more and be much better".
"In Brazil, people are a bit anxious. They want to get better as soon as possible, to do amazing in every championship, but adaptation is difficult. It's difficult to play at a high level at a club like Madrid or Barcelona. But both are amazing (Rodrygo and Vinicius)," he added.
"They show that they have an early age, a personality that is impressive. I just hope that they continue on this path, focused, that they never stop being happy, that they enjoy football and that I am in the crowd (watching them play)," he advised his compatriots.
In order to give him a chance in 2019, he also took stock of what the year had meant for him: "It was very difficult for me in every way. It was a year of learning, of twists and turns. I was injured and had to get back on my feet. Then I got injured again, so it was a year of improvement and a lot of experience."