Neymar's Playful Response to Economist After Brazil's World Cup Victory

Neymar, despite not playing, made headlines with a witty response to an economist's prediction after Brazil's dramatic 2-1 comeback win against Japan in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Coach Carlo Ancelotti explained his strategy regarding Neymar's substitution, aiming to preserve him for potential extra time. Gabriel Martinelli's last-minute goal secured Brazil's advancement to the Round of 16, where they will face either the Ivory Coast or Norway. Discover more about this thrilling match and the players' reactions.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 30, 2026, 12:50 IST

Neymar's Playful Retort to Economist

Although Neymar did not play in the match, he managed to stay in the limelight following Brazil's exciting 2-1 comeback victory against Japan in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32. After the game, the Brazilian star took to social media platform X to respond to German economist Joachim Klement, who had used a statistical model to predict Brazil's elimination by Japan. Neymar's post read, "Sr. Joachim Klement... favor tentar na proxima copa," which translates to, "Mr. Joachim Klement... please try again at the next World Cup."

Ancelotti Discusses Substitution Decisions

Brazil's head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, shared insights into his substitution strategy during a conversation with the host broadcasters. He had planned to bring Neymar onto the field in the second half against Japan but opted to keep him on the bench in case the match went into extra time due to the score being tied. Ancelotti explained, "I spoke with Ney (Neymar), and if we weren't tied, he would have come on at the 60-minute mark. Since we were level, I wanted to save him for the potential 30 minutes of extra time."

Brazil's Thrilling Comeback Victory

In a gripping match, Gabriel Martinelli netted a stunning winner in the 95th minute, leading Brazil to a remarkable second-half comeback and a 2-1 victory over Japan. This win secured Brazil's place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026, with the match taking place in front of an enthusiastic crowd on Monday (local time).

Brazil will now advance to the Round of 16, where they are set to compete against either the Ivory Coast or Norway on July 5 at the New York New Jersey Stadium.