A pub in Rio de Janeiro will pour all its customers a free spirit shot every single time star striker Neymar dives in the Selecao’s final World Cup group game against Serbia on Wednesday.
During the team’s previous game, a win against Costa Rica, the PSG man distinguished himself with a series of dramatic tumbles that appeared neither proportionate to the force exerted upon him, nor timed to coincide with actual impact on his body.
The tactic almost worked when he earned a penalty, only to have it reversed after a video replay, provoking a thousand editorials across the world praising VAR.
The performance has split even his most loyal fans in his homeland, and has forced Neymar’s father to step in, saying that the abuse has “contaminated” his son. Instead of insults, Neymar Sr. urged fans “to use the correct weapons, such as faith and prayers.”
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, commonly known as Neymar Jr. or simply Neymar, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for French club Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil national team.
With 56 goals in 87 matches for Brazil since debuting at age 18, Neymar is the third highest goalscorer for his national team, trailing only Pelé and Ronaldo. He was a key player in Brazil’s victories at the 2011 South American Youth Championship, where he finished as leading goalscorer, and the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, where he won the Golden Ball as player of the tournament. His participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2015 Copa América was cut short by injury and a suspension, but the following year he captained Brazil to their first Olympic gold medal in men’s football at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Known for his dribbling, finishing, and ability to play with both feet, Neymar has earned comparisons to former Brazil and Santos forward Pelé. Off the pitch, he ranks among the world’s most prominent sportsmen; SportsPro named him the most marketable athlete in the world in 2012 and 2013, and ESPN cited him as the world’s fourth-most famous athlete in 2016.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- He was a key player in Brazil’s victories at the 2011 South American Youth Championship, where he finished as leading goalscorer, and the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, where he won the Golden Ball as player of the tournament.
- His participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2015 Copa América was cut short by injury and a suspension, but the following year he captained Brazil to their first Olympic gold medal in men’s football at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
- During the team’s previous game, a win against Costa Rica, the PSG man distinguished himself with a series of dramatic tumbles that appeared neither proportionate to the force exerted upon him, nor timed to coincide with actual impact on his body.
