FIFA World Cup 2026: "Try again next World Cup" Neymar trolls German economist after Brazil victory
Texas, June 30
Neymar may not have stepped onto the pitch, but he ensured he remained in the spotlight after Brazil's thrilling 2-1 comeback win over Japan in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32.
After the match, the Brazilian forward posted a cheeky response on social media X to German economist Joachim Klement, whose statistical model had predicted Japan would knock Brazil out.
Neymar wrote on X, "Sr. Joachim klement ... favor tentar na proxima copa," roughly translating to, "Mr Joachim Klement... please try again at the next World Cup."
Meanwhile, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti, while speaking to the host broadcasters, revealed that he had intended to introduce Neymar in the second half against Japan but decided to hold him back for potential extra time after the scores were level in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash.
Speaking to the host broadcaster after Brazil's dramatic 2-1 victory over Japan, Ancelotti explained the reasoning behind his substitution strategy involving the star forward.
"I talked to Ney (Neymar), if we don't draw, he'd come on at 60 minutes. Since we drew, I was preserving him for the 30 minutes of extra time," Ancelotti told the host broadcasters.
Coming to the match, Gabriel Martinelli scored a dramatic 95th-minute winner as Brazil mounted a thrilling second-half comeback to defeat Japan 2-1, securing a hard-fought ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 in front of a packed stadium on Monday (local time).
Brazil advances to the Round of 16, where they will face either the Ivory Coast or Norway on July 5 at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I'm not a huge football fan, but seeing Brazil pull off a comeback like that is always exciting. And Neymar trolling a statistician is peak entertainment! 😂 I wonder if the economist will now adjust his model for the next round.
Ancelotti's strategy is genius! Preserving Neymar for extra time shows he's thinking ahead. It's like a chess match—why waste your queen when you might need her later? Brazil's squad depth is unreal. I just hope they don't take Japan lightly next time. Respect to Japan for a good fight!
Neymar's post was savage but also kind of funny. These models are just predictions anyway—football is played on the pitch, not on a spreadsheet. Brazil's win was well-deserved. Martinelli stepping up in the 95th minute was insane! 🇧🇷
I love how football brings out these moments of pure audacity. Neymar may not have played, but his presence is still felt. And Ancelotti's decision shows he's not just a good coach but a tactical mastermind. But I hope India gets to this level someday—our boys need more exposure to this kind of pressure.
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