Brazilian star striker Neymar has a reputation for scoring big goals, and for embellishing contact from his opponents. He did both during Monday’s Round of 16 World Cup match against Mexico.
It happened late in the match, when he was on the ground near the sideline, with the ball at his feet. Mexico’s Miguel Layun went to snatch the ball from him, but he stepped on Neymar’s ankle — which he injured earlier in the year, and is clearly still ailing from — in doing so. The contact appeared to be intentional, but Neymar played it up big-time. Check out his Oscars-worthy reaction.
https://twitter.com/GrosvenorTips/status/1013858995826765825
The memes came rolling in on Twitter shortly thereafter.
https://twitter.com/famenaija/status/1013891707086229509
#MyFallbackExcuse is the Neymar effect pic.twitter.com/1lGYpfJv9b
— Alarms & coffee (@lostinmusic1982) July 2, 2018
Neymar style… pic.twitter.com/Dk23kg51lQ
— 🦅Dalia.Anwar🦅 (@Dalia470) July 2, 2018
If Neymar was a goat.. pic.twitter.com/MG6Z4GTxLT
— thecoolerking (@thecoolerking2) July 2, 2018
https://twitter.com/JonBenjamin19/status/1013891002938068993
https://twitter.com/NChimdindu/status/1013896632704819200
Would shine like a star in Bollywood ❤ @neymarjr #Neymar pic.twitter.com/iCqJGMJ6vg
— Moe Zainal (@zainal) July 2, 2018
Former England striker Alan Shearer certainly wasn’t a fan of Neymar’s antics.
FFS @neymarjr man. STOP IT. We are fed up of it. #BrazilvsMexico
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) July 2, 2018
That's how Neymar rolls. pic.twitter.com/XS3X0AvUDY
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 2, 2018
Layun clearly stepped on Neymar’s ankle, and it looked to be purposeful, which should’ve resulted in a red card. The referee chose not to go in that direction, though, and it could have been because of Neymar’s reputation for embellishing contact.
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