World Cup 2014: Neymar puts bitter national rivalry aside to say that Lionel Messi 'deserves to win the World Cup'

Brazil star rooting for his Barcelona teammate

(Getty Images)

Their two countries might be locked in an eternal and bitter rivalry, but Brazilian star striker Neymar has put national differences aside to lend his support to Lionel Messi in Sunday's World Cup final.

Neymar missed his country's humiliation at the hands of Germany, having broken a vertebra in his back in his side's quarter-final win over Colombia.

However he has now lent his support to Argentina and Messi, ahead of Sunday's World Cup showdown.

"Messi deserves to win the World Cup," the 22-year-old told a press conference.

"He's my friend, I wish him the best."

This will be the third time Argentina and Germany have met in the World Cup final, the South Americans winning in 1986 but the Germans coming out on top in 1990.

Fourteen years later they get to play the best of three.