Professional athletes have typically demonstrated their abilities upon arrival for training. Antoine Walker, a former Boston Celtics player, drove his Ferrari to a workout as a subtle flex, infuriating competition addict Michael Jordan.

Walker’s bid to become alpha dog was supposedly so unimpressive that he appeared in a different Ferrari each day for the following week’s training, wearing matching Jumpman sweatsuits. In the modern day, only Neymar Jr.’s customized Mercedes-Benz helicopter can match Michael Jordan’s training arrival gesture.

Rewind the clock. It was the year 2019. Hope, unlike wildfire ash and COVID-19 particles, once reigned supreme. The Paris Saint-Germain player returned to international duty with Brazil before the Copa America competition after missing three months due to a metatarsal injury. Neymar arrived at the Granja Comary sports complex in Teresopolis, Brazil, by helicopter, not supercar or chauffeur.

The helicopter, which is 13.64 meters long and 3.95 meters high, has a top speed of 150 miles per hour / 241 kilometers per hour. Mercedes created the one-of-a-kind furnishings for the VIP lounge. It can accommodate 11 persons.”

Airbus H-145 twin-engine helicopters can go 351 nautical miles / 404 statute miles / 650 kilometers on a single canister of fuel. The midnight black paint job and logo on the interior seating are said to be references to Batman, Neymar’s favorite character. On his back are tattoos of the Dark Knight and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man.

Neymar Jr. travels the world in his €13 million (AU$20.3 million) Embraer Legacy 450 and Mercedes-Benz Airbus H-145 helicopter. Are you a professional baseball player without a private plane worth €12.2 million or $19.1 million?