Stephen Amell finally answers Neymar Jr.’s 8-year-old DM—with an assist from James Corden

If you ever wondered who drops into whose DMs, and what on earth happens next, here’s a truly bizarre one: Stephen Amell – yes, Arrow himself – has ended up digital mates with none other than Neymar Jr. Not exactly a predictable crossover, even in the chaotic world of celebrity social media. But that’s what came out smack in the middle of the FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage, and it all started with a live telly reveal and half a decade-old message.

Outed by Corden, Live on Air

Picture the scene: James Corden, now fronting FIFA World Cup coverage for Fox (yes, really), springs a mini bombshell on air. He tells Stephen Amell, who’s guesting on the show, that not only does Neymar Jr follow him on Instagram, but the footballer actually slid into his DMs back in the mists of 2018. And the message? Could not have been more direct:

'Big fan.'

Sometimes, there’s no point in wordy intros, is there?

How Amell Responded (Years Later…)

Obviously, Amell had managed to miss this message entirely at the time. When pressed about his (apparent) new friendship by Entertainment Weekly, Amell joked about the whole thing:

'What, that we're best friends now?'

Post-broadcast, he did finally reply to Neymar, letting him know: 'Hey, by the way, that was James Corden, and I'm also a big admirer.'

Amell even tossed in some good luck for Neymar’s upcoming game against Japan. Maybe he’s the lucky mascot Brazil never knew they needed, because the team went and won 2-1. Or as Amell put it, not taking 'total credit, but like, maybe a little bit.'

The Ridiculous DM Drafts

This whole thing only got weirder, as Corden decided he was going to draft a (frankly, hilarious) message to send to Neymar on Amell’s behalf. Here’s what he came up with:

• 'Hey bro, just saw this. Thrilled you're a big fan. Are you in the States? Let's hang, just me and you. I'm in the new Baywatch series on Fox. You will love it.'
• 'I'm currently with Rio Ferdinand. He hates you.'

World Cup Hopes & ‘Any Invitation’ Policy

Somewhere in the banter, Amell said he’s never been to Brazil, and would gladly accept any invite if the national side keeps progressing in the tournament. The Canadian actor reckons if Brazil make it to the latter stages – quarter-finals, semis, maybe even the final – Fox might pull a few strings and get him pitch-side. Well, who wouldn’t fancy a bit of World Cup action (and an excuse for a celebrity meet-up)?