Despite starting two games on the bench, Rodrygo Goes has been one of Brazil’s standout players in the Word Cup. His red-hot cameos earned him a start against Cameroon, but the game, unfortunately, ended in a loss for the Selecao.

The 21-year-old is yet to score and has provided one assist so far in the competition, averaging two shots and one key pass per game.

He recently gave an interview (h/t GOAL Italia) in which he spoke about his role models in both club and country setups. 

The Brazilian winger shed light on his special bond with Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric and how the Croatian international served as a guide and role model for him.

“I talk a lot with Modric. I ask him for advice and observe his way of moving. He is a player I focus on a lot, a reference.”

Having the support and trust of the dressing room goes a long way in helping a young talent blossom without pressure. Rodrygo revealed how Brazil icon Neymar served that role in the national team.

“Neymar congratulated me at the end of the match vs. Cameroon. He told me to continue like this despite the defeat and to not think about what happened. To leave it behind and look forward.”

The Real Madrid starlet has never hidden his admiration for Neymar and has openly called him his role model. In his recent interview, he reiterated the same one again saying,

“Neymar showed so much confidence in me before the game vs. Cameroon. He’s a teacher and he is my idol. It’s an honour to play with him.”

Opening up on the loss to Cameroon and how it impacts the team’s mindset going further into the tournament, Rodrygo added:

“The defeat against Cameroon has a positive interpretation: it puts us on notice and serves as a lesson. It’s good that it happened in a match that mattered relatively less.

“With Korea, it will be a very difficult match. In June we faced them in a friendly and it ended in a goal glut, but the match was more difficult than the result says.”