Neymar barges over teen after losing ball in 5-a-side match (VIDEO)
Brazil star Neymar has lamented the rough treatment he received at the World Cup in Russia, but this time he was the one dishing out the aggression as he barged a teenager over after losing the ball in a 5-a-side game.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward was taking part in his own ‘Neymar Jr’s Five’ event, which brings together five-a-side teams from around the world.
READ MORE: Ronaldo & Messi make FIFA player of the year shortlist… but no room for Neymar
The number 10 was appearing at a stage of the event in his Brazilian homeland, where he was filmed attempting to take the ball past a younger opponent.
After trying some fancy footwork on the teen – who keeps his eye firmly fixed on the ball in textbook fashion – Neymar embarrassingly sees the youngster nick the ball away from him, prompting the PSG player to scurry back and barge his opponent over.
Here's Neymar losing the ball to a kid in his own 5 a side tournament then barging the kid over in retaliation pic.twitter.com/jxaY1G1fr9
— Tomasz Mortimer (@TMortimerFtbl) July 24, 2018
The referee rightly calls play back for a free-kick, with Neymar sporting a sheepish grin.
Reactions to the incident online included some laying into the 26-year-old Brazil star, with one person saying: “I can't believe he stayed on his feet and didn't roll over 5 times claiming he got breathed on.”
Another person mockingly wrote: “At least Neymar stayed on his feet for once!”
At least Neymar stayed on his feet for once!
— Gikky Metrod (@RikGodAnim) July 25, 2018
Others, however, said he was merely doing what good players should when they lose the ball, tracking back and attempting to win it.
“Or... here’s Neymar getting tackled then trying to get the ball back because that’s how you play football?” one person wrote.
“I just saw the clip and in my opinion Neymar only did what he was supposed to do after losing the ball,” another person said.
I just saw the clip and in my opinion Neymar only did what he was supposed to do after losing the ball
— GOONER 231 (@Dejjoski) July 25, 2018
The Brazilian star himself claimed he was on the wrong end of some overly rough defending during the World Cup in Russia – despite accusations he made the most of any contact with some overly dramatic rolls.
He recently said critics who accused him of playacting would “never understand” what it was like to be targeted by defenders.
READ MORE: ‘They will never understand’: Neymar hits out at World Cup diving critics
“After the games I stay back for four or five hours putting on ice, it's complicated but if you haven't experienced that you will never understand. I saw [the jokes], but I took them with a humor,” Neymar said via Sky Sports.
“A lot of time I'm faster and lighter than other players and they tackle me, and the referee is there for that," he added.
That clearly works both ways, based on the cynical defending skills on display in his five-a-side outing.
