A broken back almost paralyzed Neymar for life in 2014 and he had a broken metatarsal a few months ago. Against Mexico he was kicked, pushed and a Mexican player stepped on his foot on purpose. The referee did nothing. Mexico coach said that Neymar is a bad example for children. Maybe he doesn’t know how much Neymar helps children in Brazil. His foundation offers educational e sporting activities to socially disadvantaged children and their families in the same poor neighborhood he spent most of his childhood. Yes, Neymar overreacts when is kicked, pushed and steeped on but what I have been seeing especially in England newspapers is a campaign against Neymar. England lost to Belgium to avoid playing against Brazil and take the easy path. Read the comments on The Guardian asking for Neymar to be banned from soccer forever, hoping that someone break his legs and worse. Everyday there is at least an article about Neymar antics. Envy, fear?
6
I have been rooting for Brazil from the start of the tournament and will continue to do so.
It’s a shame that the joy I have watching Brazil is tempered by the childish antics of Neymar.
Neymar should receive an Oscar for his acting in the match with Mexico.
Congratulations to Brazilians! Despite the minor drama, it was a good win.
As a Mexican, I am proud of my team. We fought to the last minute. They were entertaining and they played always fairly. Our players made us dream and most of all they made us proud !!
Regardless of the sadness of todays's loss, It has been a fantastic tournament. I wish the rest of the teams well.
Until we meet again .... Sayonara :-)
7
Neymar is a very good athlete and he is right to protect his foot and legs which he practices his profession. Now some of the Mexican team ‘s player sees soccer as a war and have this mentality of injuring good players. That is not how Brazilians play soccer. Its sport and not wrestling or martial arts. The Mexican couch was complaining about small things he instead should have prepared his players to play good soccer. I watched the game and Brazil deserved to win. Just play the game and not injuring no one next time. Good lucks to Brazil will take on Belgium Friday.
19
I wish other teams and players would take a page from Japan’s playbook: no time-wasting, no running out the clock with nonsense, no deplorable Neymaresque/entertainment wrestling histrionics – just clean, compelling, honest football.
20
And specially no stepping on other players’s ankles!
7
I felt a lot of criticism to the brazilian players. Yes, Neymar does a lot of acting, but what Layun did was just disgracefull
15
People are blaming the players who cry after being stepped on and kicked, not who kicks the other instead of the ball. Only those who have never played soccer who think so.
10
I see some people when they lose they gives excuses for this and for that, but Brazil’s players did better than the Mexico’s players on the pitch. Brazil will meet Belgium on Friday. Good lucks Brazilians you can do it this time. Neymar can score 2 goals next game.
9
Neymar is first and foremost a team player. And likewise the rest of the Brazilian team. That is what makes them so great and beautiful to watch. Mexico had a great run and it is a heartbreaking defeat yet again in the round of sixteen. But do not blame it on Neymar or Brasil. Learn from the beauty of their team play and yes seek to imitate Neymar theatrics and all....jealousy is always the greatest example of flattery.
11
Despite his talent, Neymar's histrionics make him a totally unlikable athlete. Today, after trying to hold the ball and impede a side-in by Mexico, video showed the player from Mexico did not even touch him when grabbing the ball, yet Neymar then went on for a couple of minutes faking severe pain and clutching his ankle.
If there was ever a textbook demonstration of poor sportsmanship, Neymar showed it without any doubt (except to perhaps the most die-hard fan of Brazil). The video of those three minutes is worth looking for. It took a significant amount of time off the clock, when Mexico was already down a goal.
If the rules allow for a card for this level of obnoxious unsportsmanlike conduct, there was no better time to give one.
18
are you kidding? the video CLEARLY shows the player from mexico stepping on neymar's ankle on purpose. yes, neymar overacted afterwards, but really? neymar is the big problem here? good grief.
5
Wait are you kidding me the guy straight up stepped on his ankle. That’s not disputable. What video did you watch. You can criticize him for embellishing, looking silly, acting like an idiot, but that should have been at least a yellow if not a red on the Mexican player.
4
Neymar is a great player but a very bad actor. He should take acting lessons because so many times one feel's boo him of the field.
1
So Leyun steps on Nomars ankle and it’s Nomar who gets the criticism for playing it up? Mexico could easily have gotten a red card and should be more graceful in defeat if they’re worried about setting examples. Brazil is too fast for Belgium or at least the line up Belgium started with today.
18
Meant Neymar not Nomar. My spellcheck had a baseball bias.
6
Missed the game but just read the play by play in an Uber. It’s brilliant. Driver wondering what’s so funny because I had to laugh out loud several times. More of this please!
4
Seeing Neymar's minimal pain threshold I can only conclude that he must have undergone general anesthesia in order to get all of those tatoos, just sayin.
37
I'm a fan. But that is pretty, pretty funny. :)
4
Was rooting for Mexico to do well as the underdog. But the Brazilian players had the speed and the strength and pass control to not let Mexico play their game. Unfortunately after the first goal knowing that Mexico will be forced to play offense, the result became a foregone conclusion with brazil able to counter attack with Neymar, Coutinho and Jesus or Firmino. But good game to watch as the sport is followed passionately by both country fans.
15
Brazil to the hexa! USA Pray for the Brazil. Hugs from Rio de Janeiro.
9
I want both teams out......brazil is a lazy team who takes drawing fouls to a whole new level.
1
Won't lie. This DFB fan is enjoying a wee bit of Schadenfreude at Mexico's knockout -- but still, they're a good team and played a hard game...Adios Amigos!
11
Sore losers commenting here. BRAZIL WON!!!!
23
Disagree. The losing side often has reason for complaint in football matches. Winning is NOT everything. (Why I rooted against the Dutch in the last European finals, even though they have always been the team I root for until I saw how they were playing in that tournament.) In football, excellent style of play is revered even over winning. Everyone remembers Cruyff and Dutch Total Football. But they didn't win the WC. They were just the better footballing side. I'm good with that.
But in this case,the better team did win. The losing side can still have their points though.
9
Great work by Neymar to start the first goal sequence with the backheel to Willian and then through the crowd to and slide in for the far-post tap in.
10
Neymar ruins the game with his faking. They give yellow cards for complaining -- why not for faking?
He disgusts me. I'm no longer a Neymar or Brazil fan.
34
Be honest Eddie, you were never a Neymar or Selecao fan to begin with. It is okay, really.
9
Neymar oversells his pain, I don't dispute that. For this reason, in Brazil he is a rich source of exasperation and memes. But he's beaten an awful lot, as well. Anyway, when he's up and running, that's what really matters. No need to agree with me on this. Just ask the Mexicans.
21
Back in the day, Rivaldo faked getting hit in the face when a ball was kicked at him in anger by an opposing player. The red card given to the opposing player was _fully_ warranted. Drawing attention to completely unsportsmanlike conduct is not the problem. The unsportsmanlike conduct is the problem. I am totally fine with what Rivaldo did. Neymar is fouled continuously. Got a problem with his reactions to that? Then stop fouling the guy.
9
From minute 20 onwards this result was a foregone conclusion. I was hopeful that in a World Cup of upsets, Mexico would be able to pull it off but Brazil was the better side by leaps and bounds. I'm still perturbed the USA didn't make this tournament.
10
Just think. Our USA team was beat out by Panama to come to this WC. Panama! They play baseball folks!
We've had one Landon Donovan so far we need at least several at his level to compete seriously.
3
My kids will be ready in 2026.
5
Wonderful to see real athletes displaying grace, endurance and agility! I love this sport! Both teams were so good. But Brazil is clearly a powerhouse, although I did want the underdog Mexico to win. Congrats to Brazil!
24
Thanks!
5
It was an exciting game. However, Mexico outplayed Brazil in the first half. Brazil’s back line was dominated by Mexico in the first half. Mexico missed a few decent chances that half. Brazil played better in the second half but I did not see dominance by any means. I think this team is better than Brazil’s last two national teams but they are not yet humming and are certainly not invincible. France is superior in all phases right now. Belgium would be tough for Brazil unless they improve. France would certainly beat this team unless they significantly improve. France should be the clear favorites.
7
Awww. Calm down. Ever notice how the ref usually just smiles and walks away? It's part theater, part sport. Is this any worse that the "Philly Special"?
Philly Special was perfectly legal
Grats to Brazil for advancing but so much for the 'Beautiful Game.' So much Flopping/Acting, some of it was embarrassing to watch.
19
There should definitely be more yellow cards for diving and there should ve a rule that if you flop around the pitch for more than 10 seconds "writhing in agony", you should taken off the pitch for at least 10 minutes to tend to your alleged injury.
36
Perhaps, then again perhaps straight red cards should be handed out when warranted. Stepping on a player on purpose is violent conduct and is a straight red card offense. It is not even a debate.
7
Geezuz. Layun was lucky the ref didn’t get the nod from Putin to check the var replay. Mexico would undoubtedly have been reduced to 10 players . el tri had their fair share of opportunities to produce goals in this game sure. But From what I saw, Brazil dominated a team in the 2nd half and beat them at their own press and counter game.
2
Its 2/0. Just report the score!!!!!
3
Neymar is such a fraud and faker of injuries. It's embarrassing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4j50gLONPE
42
That makes him a great soccer player! He has to, it’s part of the game. I like that they review calls referees make now. Those fakers’ been ruining games for ever.
4
Should get your facts straight. You just dont like the guy, but it is personal and it is fine.
7
As the most fouled player in the WC, perhaps your team should just stop fouling the guy. Problem solved, eh?
6