By NAN Sports Editor
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. July 3, 2018: If you watched the exciting clash of Mexico and Brazil at the World Cup Monday, then you will know that in the 72nd minute with a 1-0 lead, Brazil’s star player, Neymar, reacted somewhat strongly to some contact from Mexico’s Miguel Layun, who stepped on the player’s ankle.
Neymar rolled around for minutes in apparent pain on the field, causing further delay on a restart after the ball went out of bounds.
The moment sent social media into hysterics, with many slamming the Brazilian star for over acting and acting like a child.
Even Mexico’s coach, Juan Carlos Osorio, was very upset, calling it “an embarrassment for soccer.”
Speaking after his team’s 0-2 loss, Osorio said at his press conference: “It’s not a good example for soccer, and for the world of soccer, for all the kids playing. This is a game of men and not one with so much clowning.”
On Twitter, fans were harsher, calling Neymar “pathetic” and a “cry baby” while others compared his actions to that of a tantrum throwing “toddler.”
“FFS @neymarjr man. STOP IT. We are fed up of it. #BrazilvsMexico,” Alan Shearer tweeted while @SAHipHopAllday added: “This is why you’ll never reach Messi’s or Cristiano’s level @neymarjr”
@madpweety was tongue in cheek adding: “Don’t let Belgium winnings distract you from the facts that Neymar is still rolling ??”
Ivan Kuliš observed: “It’s a real wonder how Neymar was able to sit through all those tattoo sessions without diving on the floor every 2 seconds” while Christina Trajceska tweeted: “I wanna see what Neymar does when someone REALLY hits him.”
Neymar for his part tweeted: “For you all honor and all glory God ????” in Portuguese and of his critics and the numerous fouls he has suffered so far this World Cup he added: “Look, I think it’s more of an attempt to undermine me than anything else. “I don’t care much for criticism, not even from the press because in a way this can influence athletes. The last two matches I didn’t talk to the press because there’s so many people talking.
“I just want to play and I help my teammates, I have to help my team and that’s what I am here for, nothing else. I am here to win and I hope I can improve.”
Brazil will now face Belgium in their quarter final match up on Friday at 2 p.m. EST.
