You may think I fall too much. But the truth is I did not fall. I fell apart… I took long to accept your criticism. I took long to look at myself in the mirror and become a new man. I fell, but only who falls can pick himself up
Neymar finally accepts the criticism he faced during this year’s World Cup and finally admits, in a sponsored ad by Gillette, that “sometimes I do exaggerate” whilst on the pitch. The 26-year-old’s on-field antics had sparked controversy during the tournament for what many believed to be dives and falls that were overly dramatic and uncalled for.
The 90 second video, titled ‘A New Man Everyday’ has been stylised as a black and white video in which the striker poetically reflects on the criticisms he has received. The post world cup message to fans has been aired to millions of viewers on several Brazilian TV networks. “Studs on my calf, knee in my back, stamp on my foot,” he begins, “You may think I exaggerate. And sometimes I do exaggerate. But the truth is I suffer on the pitch,” said the Brazilian striker in the video. He then continued to say, “You may think I fall too much. But the truth is I did not fall. I fell apart… I took long to accept your criticism. I took long to look at myself in the mirror and become a new man. I fell, but only who falls can pick himself up.”
The Brazilian footballer was constantly ridiculed and accused of diving and faking during the tournament. To the extent of which the player’s antics had been turned into memes, even giving rise to the ‘Neymar Challenge,’ which spread like wildfire during the World Cup. The challenge involved people videoing themselves or other people, imitating the striker rolling around.
His bad behaviour on the field has seemingly overshadowed his football skills. ITV expert, Martin O’Neil, criticised the Brazilian saying “It’s pathetic, it’s absolutely pathetic. Honestly” he then went on to say, “I wouldn’t like to see him coming out of the doctor’s surgery after getting a flu injection.” Mexican defender, Miguel Layun, heavily criticised the Brazilian football player after their encounter, telling reporters “This is football. If he does not want to be touched he should try doing something else. He is more concerned about being on the floor. If he wants to lie down, he should go home and sleep.” Layun was involved in a particular moment during the game, in which he appeared to stand on the striker’s ankle whilst he was already down on the side-line. However, many began to speculate that the PSG forward was emphasising the incident as he immediately began to roll around in agony, but then appeared to be unharmed a few minutes later. After initially receiving a penalty, the use of VAR (Video Assistant Referee), later reversed the decision. Brazil later went on to win the match 2-0.
However, Neymar was on the receiving end of most tackles, becoming the most fouled player in the World Cup in 20 years. During the game against Switzerland, the Brazilian striker became a target for Swiss players, in which he was on the receiving end of 10 fouls. Additionally, his ability as a football player has not been called into question during the tournament; the striker played a pivotal role in helping Brazil reach the Quarterfinals, considering that the 26-year-old had suffered a metatarsal injury in February representing Paris Saint Germain in a match against Marseille, and although he was short of a 100 percent fitness, he was still able to represent Brazil during their World Cup campaign.
After being eliminated from the world cup during the quarterfinals, Neymar had only addressed the defeat on Instagram, initially refusing to give any interviews to the public, ignoring 400 reporters after the match against Belgium. He later explained in the video “When I leave without giving interviews, it is not because I only want the victory laurels,” the striker went on to say, “It is because I still haven’t learned to disappoint you.” and that “When I look impolite, it is not because I am a spoiled kid. It is because I have not learned how to be frustrated.” However, this response has only garnered more criticism over his behaviour back home.
The video ends with Neymar asking Brazil to make a choice over him, as he went onto say, “You can keep casting stones -- or throw these stones away and help me stand,” he said. “When I stand, all of Brazil stands with me.”