Neymar has once again become a hero on the pitch after scoring a brace that allowed Santos FC to beat Vasco da Gama 2-1 in the Brazilian Serie A. But beyond the numbers he put up, what stood out was the gesture he made toward Vinicius Jr.
Yes, the Brazilian forward stole all the spotlight with the celebration he performed, emulating the dance his compatriot did in the Champions League knockout stage that Real Madrid played against Benfica.
In the first match, Vinicius denounced an alleged racist insult from Gianluca Prestianni, which sparked controversy across world football-an action that ended with a suspension for the return leg and a formal investigation by UEFA.
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Celebration dedicated to Vinicius
After scoring, Neymar made the silence gesture and then danced next to the corner flag, in clear reference to Vincius Jnior’s anti-racism stance and his recent celebrations with Real Madrid in European competition.
At the end of the match, Neymar explained the meaning behind the celebration:
“The dance is joy and spontaneity. It’s a way to release tension after a difficult period and show that we’re united and confident.”
“The dance was for Vinicius. I told him that when he scores, celebrate the same way despite the insults and racism. If I scored a goal, I’d celebrate the same.”
