体坛英语新闻：Neymar and Messi to face off in charity match

RIO DE JANEIRO, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Santos star striker Neymar was invited on Saturday to participate in a charity match featuring Argentina's superstar Lionel Messi.

The friendly match will consist of a team made of by Friends of Messi. The other team will be comprised of international stars and the best athletes from around the world.

Neymar is expected to participate in the match, marking his third direct match-up against the reigning FIFA MVP. In both of the previous meetings, Messi got the best of Neymar, winning 4-0 in the finals of the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup and previously leading Argentina to a friendly victory over Brazil in 2010.

The charity match is scheduled to take place on June 21 in Bogota, Colombia.

Neymar will have the perfect window of availability to participate in the event, being that Santos does not have a match in the 2012 Brazilian Championship near that date and his participation with the Brazilian national team will have ended on June 9 when Brazil and Argentina will undergo their final friendly before entering the 2012 Olympic Games in London.