World Cup ‘crybaby’ Neymar mocks home fans after scoring for Paris Saint-Germain before giving shirt to tearful pitch invader
Kylian Mbappe scores and is sent off in 4-2 win at Nimes but is unapologetic over reaction to late Teji Savanier tackle
Brazil’s World Cup flop Neymar put the ridicule he received at Russia 2018 this summer behind him with a goal in PSG’s 4-2 win over Nimes in France’s Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Neymar celebrated with a crying motion in front of the home fans, focusing his pre-planned routine and the media cameras, on a banner that referred to him as a “crybaby”.
The former Barcelona and Santos player cut a divisive figure in the summer with his diving in Russia as pre-tournament favourites Brazil went out in the quarters but he has been back to his best since returning to his club.
His opening goal at newly promoted Nimes means he has scored in all four of this season’s league fixtures for the champions, after he sat out the French Champions Cup win over Monaco in Shenzhen.
There were more tears in the south of France on Saturday.
After the game, Neymar was accosted by one young pitch invader.
Neymar picked up the boy and gave him his shirt before returning him to the stands – even though the boy was sporting a France kit bearing the name of teammate Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe was sent off in the game but the teenage hotshot, who also scored on Saturday, remained unapologetic after retaliating to a Teji Savanier tackle saw him see red in added time.
The World Cup star pushed Savanier to the floor and both players were then sent off.
