Brazil talisman Neymar Jr has sent a warning to close pal Lionel Messi ahead of the Copa America final.

Hosts Brazil will take on Argentina in the final of the competition on Saturday at the iconic Maracana Stadium

The pair spent four years together at Camp Nou before Neymar moved on to PSG, and they remain good friends to this day.

But according to the Brazilian forward, that friendship could be on the line in the Copa América final this weekend.

“Messi is, as I’ve always said, the best player I’ve ever seen play and he’s a great friend, but now we’re in a final, we’re rivals,” said Neymar, as cited by the Mirror.

“I want to win and I really want to win this title, which would be my first Copa America.

“Messi has been looking for his first title with the national team for many years, and every time we [Brazil] are not present at the tournament, I cheered for him. That’s what I’ve been cheering for in the 2014 World Cup final, when he faced Germany.

“Now Brazil is in the dispute, so our friendship is on the line. The respect between us is still great but only one can win.

“When you’re friends with someone, it’s hard to forget the friendship you have – but for example when you play video games with a friend, you want to beat him anyway. It’ll be the same thing on Saturday.”