Neymar was Left Salty after being hit on the Head by POPCORN thrown by an angry fan in WC-Qualifier
- 8 months ago
Neymar was left enraged after being struck on the head by a pack of popcorn thrown by a frustrated fan following Brazil's shock World Cup qualifying draw with Venezuela.
Brazil was on course to make it three wins from three on the road to the 2026 tournament in North America but was forced to settle for just a point after Eduard Bello's spectacular overhead kick.
It meant Brazil slipped behind arch-rivals Argentina in the early standings and the home support at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba was less than impressed.
Whistles and jeers could be heard as the players left the field, with Al-Hilal forward Neymar then hit by a well-aimed tub of popcorn thrown by a fan.
Neymar was about to enter the tunnel but stopped and gazed up into the stands to try and find the culprit.
As his teammates try to usher him back to the dressing rooms, Neymar shouts at someone in the stands before returning from the tunnel to issue another verbal volley while pointing an accusing finger.
Eventually, he is grabbed by the front of his shirt and dragged away before tempers flare even further.
That followed a bust-up involving Neymar and former Newcastle, West Brom and Everton forward Salomon Rondon.
It followed a rash challenge by Bello on Gerson which proved to be the last act of the match and sparked a melee with several players from both sides involved.
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus was also annoyed by Rondon's actions.
Neymar, who moved to Saudi Arabia from Paris Saint-Germain in a £77million deal back in August, was not immune from criticism despite delivering the corner from which Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes nodded Brazil in front.
But after they spurned several good chances, and Vinicius Junior saw a goal disallowed for offside, Bello's acrobatic finish earned Venezuela a draw.
It is the first time Brazil has failed to beat Venezuela at home and the draw ended a 15-match winning run at home in World Cup qualifying dating back to 2015.
Brazil was on course to make it three wins from three on the road to the 2026 tournament in North America but was forced to settle for just a point after Eduard Bello's spectacular overhead kick.
It meant Brazil slipped behind arch-rivals Argentina in the early standings and the home support at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba was less than impressed.
Whistles and jeers could be heard as the players left the field, with Al-Hilal forward Neymar then hit by a well-aimed tub of popcorn thrown by a fan.
Neymar was about to enter the tunnel but stopped and gazed up into the stands to try and find the culprit.
As his teammates try to usher him back to the dressing rooms, Neymar shouts at someone in the stands before returning from the tunnel to issue another verbal volley while pointing an accusing finger.
Eventually, he is grabbed by the front of his shirt and dragged away before tempers flare even further.
That followed a bust-up involving Neymar and former Newcastle, West Brom and Everton forward Salomon Rondon.
It followed a rash challenge by Bello on Gerson which proved to be the last act of the match and sparked a melee with several players from both sides involved.
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus was also annoyed by Rondon's actions.
Neymar, who moved to Saudi Arabia from Paris Saint-Germain in a £77million deal back in August, was not immune from criticism despite delivering the corner from which Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes nodded Brazil in front.
But after they spurned several good chances, and Vinicius Junior saw a goal disallowed for offside, Bello's acrobatic finish earned Venezuela a draw.
It is the first time Brazil has failed to beat Venezuela at home and the draw ended a 15-match winning run at home in World Cup qualifying dating back to 2015.