Brazilian superstar Neymar has shared an intriguing story about helping his Argentine counterpart Lionel Messi improve his penalty-taking skills.

During a recent appearance on the Podpah podcast, Neymar recounted a surprising moment from their time together at Barcelona between 2013 and 2017, when Messi turned to him for advice on penalties.

Neymar admitted he was taken aback by the request from someone widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

"I helped Messi with his penalties! We were training, and he asked me, 'How do you take penalties like that?'" Neymar said.

"I was like, 'Are you serious? You're Messi! If I can do it, you can too.' So, I showed him how I take them, and he practiced."

Now playing for his boyhood club Santos after a less-than-memorable spell at Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, Neymar's revelation adds an unexpected layer to their partnership at Barcelona, where the 33-year-old was part of a star-studded attacking trio with Messi and Luis Suarez.