Neymessi: boy unites idols from Brazil and Argentina in his own name Amid the World Cup atmosphere, Neymessi, a nine-year-old boy, resident of Maceió, in Alagoas, draws attention for carrying two of the biggest references in world football in his own name: Neymar and Messi. ?Join the g1 Alagoas channel The name Neymessi was born from the combination of the greatest scorer in the history of the Brazilian team, and the current captain of Argentina and world champion. Off the field, Neymar Jr. and Lionel Messi built a friendship during the years they played together for Barcelona, ??despite the historic rivalry between the teams where they play. The choice of name was the result of an "arm struggle" between the parents. His father, Roberto Silva, has been an Argentina fan since the 1998 World Cup. And he made a point of paying homage to Messi. His mother, Wedja Mendes, wanted her son to be named Neymar. As neither of them gave up their preference, the solution was to combine the two names. "He wanted it because he wanted Messi, and I said: 'No Messi'. Then I said it would be Neymar, and he replied that neither would Neymar. So he said: 'Since you don't want Messi and I don't want Neymar, I'll put the two together'. And Neymessi remained", recalls the mother. Neymessi: boy unites idols from Brazil and Argentina in his own name Personal Archive The decision surprised even his family. During pregnancy, when the couple told what the baby's name would be, almost no one believed them. "Everyone said it was a lie. When my husband went to register, even the clerks at the registry office asked if it was true and if he was sure", says Edja. READ ALSO: Neymar surpasses Pelé and becomes the Brazilian team's top scorer in FIFA's accounts Older brother is called Romário Irmãos Romário and Neymessi. Courtesy The passion for football didn’t start with Neymessi. The couple's eldest son is called Romário, in honor of the world champion striker for the Brazilian team in 1994. According to Wedja, her husband's idea was to pay tribute to the former player regardless of the sex of the first child. "If it was a girl, he wanted to put Romária in. A boy ended up being born and Romário was left." 'Neymessi' draws attention wherever he goes Today, at nine years old, Neymessi already knows the history of his own name and usually responds naturally when someone doubts that he really is called that. "Colleagues ask if it's true. They don't believe it. Then he confirms it: 'That's right'", says the mother. Identification with football also follows the boy on the field. According to Wedja, the child loves football and plays very well. “It makes its name worth its name,” he says. Neymessi loves football and plays very well, says his mother. Courtesy Rivalry at game time Despite Brazil and Argentina sharing space in their son's name, the dispute between the parents continues during the national teams' games. Wedja says that her husband continues to support Argentina. "If Brazil and Argentina play, he supports Argentina. He only likes Brazil when Argentina is not on the field", he jokes. She, in turn, continues to support the Brazilian team, keeping alive the rivalry that, years ago, ended up immortalized on her son's birth certificate. Neymessi Courtesy