Amell tells EW about the nerve-wracking moment James Corden took control of his phone on a live Fox Sports broadcast, and the beautiful new friendship that’s blossomed.

Stephen Amell says he’s now ‘best friends’ with soccer star Neymar after replying to years-old DM on live TV (exclusive)

Amell tells EW about the nerve-wracking moment James Corden took control of his phone on a live Fox Sports broadcast, and the beautiful new friendship that's blossomed.

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

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June 29, 2026 10:59 p.m. ET

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Stephen Amell on May 11 and Neymar on June 4. Credit:

John Nacion/Variety via Getty; Karl Bridgeman - FIFA/FIFA via Getty

- Stephen Amell has formed a fast friendship with Brazilian soccer star Neymar under unusual circumstances.

- The *Arrow *and *Suits LA *star discovered that he had an 8-year-old unread message from Neymar sitting in his DMs, which Corden replied to live after snatching his phone.

- "We're best friends now," Amell tells EW, "I wished him good luck against Japan today, and, you know, Brazil won 2-1... So, I don't want to take total credit, but..."

Stephen Amell just secured an inside track to the World Cup so exclusive that it even beats a front-row seat.

The star of *Arrow*, *Suits LA*, and the upcoming *Baywatch *reboot is an avowed sports fan, who has been carefully watching the international soccer tournament play out, sometimes even in person. But he revealed on a Sunday segment of James Corden's *FIFA World Cup on Fox After Hours *that one of the World Cup's hottest players has been watching *him *for even longer.

"Stephen discovered that Neymar follows you on Instagram," Corden told his beguiled audience, who erupted in applause. "But not only that — he sent you a message in 2018. Neymar slid into Stephen's DMs!"

Amell covered his face in playful embarrassment, handing over his phone to reveal evidence of an unread DM from the Brazilian soccer superstar in 2018 that simply read, "Big fan."

Corden replied to the A-list athlete born Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, closing a nearly decade-long gap and scoring a response while the broadcast was still rolling. When * *asked Amell on Monday if there's a Neymar update, the actor snarked, "What, that we're best friends now?"

Stephen Amell posing with the Stanley Cup on the set of 'Arrow' in 2016.

Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty

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"I actually shot him a DM [after the broadcast] being like, 'Hey, by the way, that was James Corden, and I'm also a big admirer," Amell explained. "I wished him good luck against Japan today. And, you know, Brazil won 2-1. That just happened. So I don't want to take total credit, but like, maybe a little bit."

Neymar has played with a number of Brazilian soccer clubs since rising to fame in the sport as a teen. He currently plays for the country's national team, and as their top scorer, has led the team to three victories: against Scotland, Haiti, and on Monday, Japan.

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It's a wonder Amell and Neymar's relationship survived the off-kilter message Corden sent in the actor's stead while live with a panel that also included retired English soccer star Rio Ferdinand.

"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," Corden wrote.

If Amell was anxious about having his phone screen broadcast live on television, which he pointed out incredulously, or about the spicy DM Corden sent to Neymar, he didn't show it.

"If this ends up with me at a Brazil game, it works for me," he said.

Neymar in Miami in 2026.

Robin Alam/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty

Now that the foundation has been laid for a beautiful friendship with Neymar, Amell is optimistic about his chances of catching the midfielder/forward at a World Cup game.

"Listen, I've never been to Brazil before. I will take any invitation as far as Brazil goes in the World Cup. I was fully rooting for them today because if they make the final, or maybe if they make the semis or the quarters or something like that, I feel like maybe Fox will pull some strings and I can go watch," he joked.

As for Corden projecting Amell's phone onto a big screen live on television, Amell reflected, "I didn't even think about it. I'm like, *Okay, well James is going to text him.* I had it on do not disturb, but even then, you never know, because, by the way, a bunch of my different friends are in group texts. I have one text with my friends, and they were like, 'Was your phone on do not disturb?!'"

Thankfully, his phone *was* on DND —which meant no unexpected pop ups — leading Amell to quote "the famous words of Drake: I think I moonwalked through a minefield on that one."

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