Neymar was once again a hero on the pitch as he scored twice to help Santos FC beat Vasco da Gama 2-1 in Brazil’s Serie A. But what stood out even more than his numbers was the gesture he made towards Vinicius Jr.
Yes, the Brazilian forward turned heads with a celebration in which he imitated a dance performed by his compatriot during Real Madrid’s Champions League final against Benfica.
In the first game, Vinicius accused Gianluca Prestiani of an alleged racist insult, which caused controversy in world football and ended in a suspension for the return match and a formal investigation by UEFA.
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Celebration dedicated to Vinicius
After scoring, Neymar made a gesture of silence and then danced next to the corner flag, a clear expression of Vincius Junior’s anti-racism stance and celebrations with Real Madrid in recent European competitions.
After the match, Neymar explained the meaning of the celebration:
“Dance is about joy and spontaneity. It’s a way to release tension after difficult times and show that we are united and confident.”
“That dance was for Vinicius. I told him that if he scores a goal, he should celebrate the same way despite the insults and racism. If I score a goal, I will celebrate the same way.”
