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NEYMAR JR has consistently been a player full of surprises, and on Saturday, he added a new trick to his repertoire during a free-kick attempt.
In a dead-ball situation from the edge of the penalty area, the Brazilian forward aimed to outsmart the goalkeeper.
Neymar stuttered and then struck the free-kick – which was savedCredit: YouTube
During his run-up, he stuttered and appeared to fake a shot before taking the free-kick, which resulted in a solid save by Gabriel Brazao.
Playing at home against Fortaleza, Santos was in search of a winning goal, with Neymar's free-kick occurring in the final minute of stoppage time.
Fortaleza initially took the lead in the 34th minute thanks to Adam Bareiro.
The Paraguayan forward thought he had scored again six minutes later, but VAR ruled it out for offside against Tomas Pochettino, who is the nephew of a notable player, during the buildup.
Neymar entered the match in the 67th minute and made an impact as Santos equalized eight minutes later due to an own goal by Bruno Pacheco.
While the hosts could have emerged victorious, their star player was denied a special goal to add to his impressive collection.
This moment ignited discussions on X, with many quick to commend his technique.
One user remarked: “There will be a bunch of Sunday league players pulling hamstrings trying this.”
Another commented: “It’s a clever idea; it could have worked. He scored a fantastic free-kick without much power.”
However, reactions were mixed, with some questioning the effectiveness of the technique.
One individual stated: “He wasn’t able to generate any power or spin.”
While another added: “But he didn’t score, so it’s a failed free-kick.”
There were also debates about the legality of the free-kick technique.
One user questioned: “Ehmm... Is this legal?”
In response, another user shared a tweet stating: “Just invented,” followed by a clip of a free-kick taken by Marcelinho Carioca in 2003 while he was playing for Vasco da Gama, as confirmed by a community note.
A stuttered run-up is common in penalty kicks, but it is rarely seen during free-kicks.
Players like Neymar and others have often utilized this technique from the spot, where they pause just before taking the kick.
However, implementing it from a free-kick is extremely uncommon.
Another user on X remarked: “Please don’t start this trend. Penalties are enough.”
Neymar is aiming to be part of Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for next summer’s World CupCredit: AFP
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Neymar's new free-kick technique?
Neymar attempted a stuttered run-up to fake a shot before taking the free-kick, aiming to confuse the goalkeeper.
Was Neymar's free-kick successful?
No, the free-kick was saved by the goalkeeper, which led to mixed reactions regarding the effectiveness of the technique.
Is stuttering during a free-kick legal?
The legality of stuttering during a free-kick is debated, with some questioning whether it should be allowed.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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