Football crazy teenager chooses Neymar over $10,000

16-year-old Rhiannon Conelly is going to fulfill her dream of meeting Neymar

A true football fan rejected a cash prize of $10,000 to meet her football hero, Neymar da Silva Santos Jr – the Brazilian captain. Rhiannon Conelly, who studies at Americas High School junior in El Paso, Texas, surrendered her prize to go to Spain and meet her idol instead.

The 16-year-old won a contest conducted by Brazilian soft-drink company Guaraná Antarctica and was given an option to either take $10,000 in cash or meet Neymar. The teenager didn’t take long to make her decision and will now travel to Spain free of cost next year and meet Neymar. The goalkeeper had sent a photo of herself doing kick-ups in a Neymar shirt, which was among the 2,000 entrants of the contest.

The football-crazy girl’s wish of meeting the Barcelona forward has not pleased her family and friends, who feel that she should have forgotten about meeting the footballer and accepted the cash prize instead.

Spanish paper Marca quoted her as saying:

'I just wanted to meet Neymar, I thought that was more important than the $10,000. Everyone disagrees with that, but I'm sticking to my guns.

She is now just waiting for her meeting in 2015 and will be accompanied by mom and her coach . And she further exclaimed:

'It feels good. I mean to go to Spain and meet your idol, it feels awesome.'

Neymar, the Brazilian and Barcelona player is well-known for his fancy footwork, flashy hairstyle and athletic looks.