It would be a dream for many young St George and shire footballers to meet Brazil and Barcelona superstar Neymar.
But that dream could become a reality, with Caringbah hosting a Neymar Jr’s Five qualifying event on Tuesday night.
The global five-a-side competition is a concept based on Neymar’s childhood in Brazil.
More than 10,000 teams took part in the first series last year with more than 65,000 players involved across 47 countries. There will be 38 qualifying events across Australia this year.
Players will compete to qualify for the national final in Melbourne on June 10.
From there, the winning team will travel to Brazil to play for the chance of securing a trip to Barcelona to meet the man himself.
Neymar Jr’s Five provides a unique challenge. Every time one team scores, the opposition loses a player. It was inspired by the street football Neymar Jr grew up playing.
For the 25-year-old, the tournament is a dream come true.
“I always played with my friends, using small goals,” he said.
“The tournament reminds me of my childhood and I am very proud of it. To win the five-a-side games and outplay them all, you need strategy and a good understanding of what the best moment is to attack and defend.
“A good defense is very important as well and can bring your team very far in the tournament.”
The shire qualifying event will be played at the 5Sports Football Centre, Caringbah between 6.30 and 9.30pm.
Details: neymarjrsfive.com
