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. The Brazilian forward posted a cheeky response on social media platform X to German economist Joachim Klement, whose statistical model had predicted Japan would knock Brazil out.
Neymar's Response to Economist
Neymar wrote on X, "Sr. Joachim klement ... favor tentar na proxima copa," which roughly translates to "Mr Joachim Klement... please try again at the next World Cup." This came after Brazil secured a dramatic victory, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring a 95th-minute winner to complete a second-half comeback.
Ancelotti's Substitution Strategy
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti, speaking to the host broadcasters after the match, revealed his substitution strategy involving Neymar. "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 explained. This decision kept Neymar on the bench as the team managed to win in regular time.
Match Details
Brazil advanced to the Round of 16 after a 2-1 victory over Japan at a packed stadium on Monday (local time). The team will face either the Ivory Coast or Norway on July 5 at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The win was marked by a dramatic second-half performance, with Martinelli's late goal sealing the comeback.
