Fifa World Cup: Neymar crying catches criticism from Brazil media as dive for penalty draws disdain
Brazil’s biggest newspaper says ‘it’s not normal to cry in the second game of the World Cup’ as star forward defends outburst of emotion on Twitter
“Neymar’s crying is the big news,” declared the Blog do Menon on the leading UOL Esporte website.
The world’s most expensive footballer had just scored the second of Brazil’s two extra-time goals, finally subduing Costa Rica’s stubborn resistance – and getting a monkey off the star-studded team’s back.
At the final whistle, the forward – described as a genius by his coach Tite and a petulant brat by his many detractors – sank to the turf, sobbing. Later, Neymar tweeted that “these were tears of joy, of having overcome”.
“It’s one of the big images of the World Cup: Neymar, alone, collapsed and in floods of tears,” the UOL esporte blog said.