Rain tapped gently against the windows of Neymar’s Barcelona house. Training had finished earlier than usual, leaving him with a rare free afternoon before another busy week of La Liga and Champions League matches.

Instead of football boots, Neymar wore grey sweatpants and a loose Barcelona hoodie.

Across the living room… Two-year-old Davi Lucca had transformed the carpet into his own football pitch.

Toy animals served as defenders. A teddy bear was the goalkeeper. Three cushions marked the goals.

Neymar leaned against the sofa, watching with amusement.