One of the main headlines of the 2018 World Cup in Russia has been Brazilian superstar Neymar. His play has been good, but his diving skills have been the ones to catch the world’s attention.
Eric Cantona Neymar luggage
Former French and Manchester United star Eric Cantona has been the latest prominent person to mock the Brazilian’s antics in a video where he compares Neymar to a luggage which turns round and round for hours. Cantona then goes on to explain how continuity is a very important element in acting, so when Neymar gets hit on the right shoulder, he can’t go on holding his left cheek.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKwbldHLSls
It’s not the first time Cantona has made fun of Neymar. He also did it when PSG’s forward introduced his new blonde haircut, posting a picture with pasta on top of his head and captioning it “Spaghetti al dente?”
Neymar World Cup diving reaction
Neymar has always been prone to over exaggeration, but doing it on the World Cup stage makes people take notice and tends to get them riled up.
The Mexicans were especially angry after their 2-0 Round of 16 loss to Brazil, accusing Neymar of play-acting and destroying football.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gM3SUwubno
This is what Mexico’s coach Juan Carlos Osorio had to say:
“…to me it is just shameful that so much time could be lost over one player,”
Miguel Layun:
“The delay for one player lasted four minutes, and that is a lesson for even children who play. This should be a game of men and not so much clowning around.”
Andres Guardado:
“We all know Neymar, it’s not up to me or us to judge, but the referees and Fifa.
“Now they have VAR they have to watch his style of play and the referee needs to be on top of it because we know he likes to exaggerate fouls, he likes to drop on the floor a lot.”
They were far from the only ones to react.
Diego Maradona:
“Neymar has to change the ‘chip’ in his head a little bit.”
ITV pundit Martin O’Neill:
“It’s pathetic. It’s absolutely pathetic. Honestly,”
Neymar has also been a main feature in countless of online memes and videos mocking his behaviour as well. It has led to the creation of the expression “He graduated the Neymar diving school”, an expression which is being used every time a player drops on the floor complaining to be seriously injured when he was actually barely touched.
Hopefully, one day, Neymar realizes that as a global icon, he sets an example for millions of fans and children around the world and what he’s teaching them is not acceptable. Meanwhile, we have Eric Cantona’s hilarious sketch to keep us smiling.
