'You made me...' Neymar Junior's heartfelt message for his deceased first scout

Betinho Talentos, renowned for discovering Brazilian football talent including Al-Hilal star Neymar, sadly passed away on Saturday. Neymar took to social media to express his deep sorrow and gratitude for the impact his first coach had on his life and career. 

While the cause of Betinho's passing has yet to be revealed, Neymar’s tribute highlights the profound influence of mentorship he left on the player's early days as a footballer.

Neymar's heartfelt message for Betinho

On Instagram, the former Barcelona star posted a photograph of himself as a young boy alongside his coach. He stated his heartfelt tribute in the caption that he witnessed Neymar running in the stands and made it a point to have him run in various stadiums around the globe. He took the initiative to put Neymar in soccer and ensured his parents took him to his first tryout. Neymar expressed his unwavering gratitude for that experience, asserting that his coach will always watch over him from above.

"You saw me running in the stands and made me run in several stadiums around the world. You put me in soccer, made my parents take me to my first tryout. I will always be grateful for that! Watch over us up there. Rest in peace, Professor BETINHO," Neymar captioned.

Betinho, who dedicated a major portion of his career to Santos, played a pivotal role in discovering young Neymar in 2004. He brought Neymar to Vila Belmiro, where the young talent joined the club's youth system. This opportunity paved the way for Neymar to make his senior debut for Santos in 2009, where he quickly established himself as one of the standout players in the history of Brazil's national team, Selecao.

Currently, Neymar is on the mend from a recent injury he sustained in October as he was returning from a lengthy recovery period following an ACL injury.