Was Oprah's support a jinx? Just a day after the talk-show mogul threw her support behind Mexico in the World Cup, the Mexican team got knocked out by powerhouse Brazil.
#BRA get the job done! 💪
— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) July 2, 2018
Second-half goals from @neymarjr and Roberto Firmino mean that @CBF_Futebol are through to the quarter-finals! #BRAMEX pic.twitter.com/LHBtM2Ajbw
Along the way, Brazilian star Neymar pulled yet another impressive fake-out (remember this one?). Mexico player Miguel Layun stepped on Neymar's ankle, and the Brazilian star's dramatic overreaction created more memes about how he deserves an Academy Award for his acting.
"Here's Neymar's ankle getting stepped on before he died from the injury and was resurrected," joked one.
Wrote BBC 5 Live Sport, "Neymar claims Layun stood on his ankle on the touchline. But his reaction was 'as if there were invisible crocodiles surrounding the edge of the pitch.'"
"I'm embarrassed for him" - @DionDublinsDube
— BBC 5 live Sport (@5liveSport) July 2, 2018
Neymar claims Layun stood on his ankle on the touchline.
But his reaction was "as if there were invisible crocodiles surrounding the edge of the pitch"
📱📻 https://t.co/sN3eZOIMrt#WorldCup #bbcworldcup #BRAMEX pic.twitter.com/V3dDlV9qlr
And The Oscar goes to.... Neymar 👏
— Xtiian Zech (@XtiianZech) July 2, 2018
Angry Mexico fans give their impressions of Neymar 😂😂#WorldCup | #TSWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Wxkiw1WeKr
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) July 2, 2018
If Neymar was a dog... 😅 pic.twitter.com/q23YbrTDyG
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) July 2, 2018
Neymar’s highlights from the Mexico game:
— Carlos Marquez (@Carlmarq96) July 2, 2018
pic.twitter.com/RzoiRUD3iu
wtf neymar, literally done this every time in the #worldcup so far pic.twitter.com/0gsYmKuWsr
— m💕. (@xbarcaa) July 2, 2018
I just waved at Neymar
— Jesus H Christ (@ThatBloke_Jesus) July 2, 2018
He fell over
When you touch Neymar #BRAMEX pic.twitter.com/0TA27VDLRe
— Nick Parker ➐ (@NickParkerMusic) July 2, 2018
*mexicans*
— gustavo (@gustavonever) July 2, 2018
neymar is such a bad actor
also mexicans: pic.twitter.com/feaw4RjKX3
Considering the amount of time Neymar has been rolling about the pitch... There should be about 91 minutes injury time in this game #BRAMEX
— Davie 1.6 (@Selki13) July 2, 2018
Here's Neymar's ankle getting stepped on before he died from the injury and was resurrected pic.twitter.com/4BKcrzT9sz
— Marcus Gilmer (@marcusgilmer) July 2, 2018
Neymar has the lowest pain threshold of any player in World Cups since Opta stats began.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 2, 2018
The Neymar Drama as it unfolded. #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/qfUPOPb3VC
— Marcus Gilmer (@marcusgilmer) July 2, 2018
Needed for next match #BRAMEX pic.twitter.com/8RlpXRE9B8
— Shabbeer Syed (@shabby_25979) July 2, 2018
wtf neymar, literally done this every time in the #worldcup so far pic.twitter.com/0gsYmKuWsr
— m💕. (@xbarcaa) July 2, 2018
Mexican coach Juan Carlos Osorio didn't mention Neymar's name, but it seems clear that he was talking about the superstar in a quote reported by the Guardian.
"I think it's a shame for football," Osorio said. "We wasted a lot of time because of one player. We stopped too often. I think this is a very negative example for the world of football and all the children who are following this game. This is a strong sport, a man's sport and I think there shouldn't be so much acting."
Osorio didn't mention Neymar by name (but he was talking about Neymar): "It's an embarrassment for football that so much time was wasted on one player. The officiating was very biased and the players got tired of that ... It's not a good example for football." #eltrieng #mex
— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) July 2, 2018
But after the game, the player himself dismissed the criticism.
"I think it's more an attempt to undermine me than anything else," Neymar said, according to The Guardian. "I am here to win with my teammates."
On his Twitter account, the player stuck only to praising God and celebrating his team's win, with no mention of the in-game drama. "To you, all honor and all glory God," he wrote.
Para ti toda honra e toda Glória Deus 🙌🏽🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/w7TKYTkDrM
— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) July 2, 2018
And some were quick to point out the Mexico coach would have a stronger complaint had his team played better. Wrote one Twitter user, "Mexico was outplayed. To blame Neymar is to distract from their performance."
Mexico was outplayed. To blame neymar is to distract from their performance.
— VinnyX (@VinnyXa) July 2, 2018
while he might not be wrong how hard is it to admit that we were simply outplayed after the 30th minute
— charles (@bakedjam) July 2, 2018
Osorio pathetic excuses do no good for him. Zero respect #regresaatucasa
— Andre Maule (@Maule10) July 2, 2018
Neymar's fans also defended the star, pointing out that he scored one of Brazil's two goals, and many were furious Layun wasn't sent off for stepping on Neymar.
Wrote one, "To all the idiots making memes & making fun of Neymar. He was already injured & Mexican player did this. It's easy to judge but only he knew how he felt, after that he slowed down a bit because of pain. Y'all ignore the fact Brazil won bc of him & start trolling."
Said another, "For all of you who are saying that Neymar was too exaggerated today, let me step on your ankle with metal spikes."
To all the idiots making memes & making fun of Neymar , He was already injured & Mexican player did this , it’s easy to judge but only he knew how he felt , after that he slowed down a bit because of pain . Y’all ignore the fact Brazil won bc of him & start trolling LMAO #BRAMEX pic.twitter.com/LHRTbQOFc9
— Neymar 🇧🇷 || Nadal 🌱 || Maria 🌱 (@its_me_lokey) July 2, 2018
For all of you who are saying that the Neymar was too exaggerated today, let me step on your ankle with metal spikes #BRAMEX 🤫
— missmay (@maymeimaeh1) July 2, 2018
Watch the replay, he clearly stomps on Neymar's shin while Neymar is down. Should have been a red.
— Chris Sutton (@chrissutton) July 2, 2018
Why’s everyone talking negative abt Neymar??? the guy did foul him... maybe his reaction was a bit exaggerated... but we don’t know, we aren’t in his body. what we do know is he scored a goal and did an amazing assist and without him Brazil probably wouldn’t have won.. #BRAMEX pic.twitter.com/oXCQm5e3Wu
— 🇦🇷🇧🇷🇪🇸🇺🇾 (@ari_moonlight98) July 2, 2018
Mexico's many supporters were justifiably bummed out by the loss, while Brazil fans went a little nuts. Wrote one Mexico fan, "After the #MexicoVsBrasil game, I showered in my own tears."
After the #MexicoVsBrasil game, I showered in my own tears pic.twitter.com/9vN5ACcVtw
— Eric 🐝 (@LatinoDionysus) July 2, 2018
ALL OF BRAZIL RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/1wuV7kaq1j
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) July 2, 2018
Brazil and Mexico met for the 5th time in the World Cup.
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) July 2, 2018
Mexico still hasn't scored a goal against Brazil in ANY of those meetings. pic.twitter.com/34mWU1Ot98
#BRAMEX Koreans after putting their blood sweat & tears in just to see Mexico lose in their next game pic.twitter.com/5xZe9JGTR0
— z // asd📌 (@daegudoyoung) July 2, 2018
lol at my dad 🇲🇽🇧🇷 #BRAMEX pic.twitter.com/y1cHdhIFzN
— clarissabeth (@clarissa_beth) July 2, 2018
The day's second match ended with Belgium eliminating Japan 3-2 after being down 0-2.
Belgium scored 3 straight goals to shock Japan in a comeback victory. The winning shot came in the 94th minute. https://t.co/VlgV6G9fZL pic.twitter.com/b52VjB43o2
— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 2, 2018
But the Japanese team heads for home with a stellar reputation, thanks in part to their fans regularly cleaning up stadiums after their games. Wrote one fan with a pro-Mexico nickname, "Japan deserved better, all the Japanese fans we met in Moscow were great." Added another, "Belgium won the match, Japan won our hearts. "
Elation for Belgium, but utter heartbreak for #JPN
— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) July 2, 2018
Thank you for contributing so much to a #WorldCup classic and for everything you've added to Russia 2018, Japan. #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/rtd3xUrEyj
Japan deserved better, all the Japanese fans we met in Moscow were great
— Vamos Mexico (@danpack6) July 2, 2018
Even after losing, Japan fans still stayed behind to clean up the stands 👏 pic.twitter.com/Q5t9akokKy
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 2, 2018
Respect 🇯🇵
— COPA90 US (@COPA90US) June 28, 2018
Japan fans clean up Volgograd Stadium after their loss to #POL
[🎥 IG: Thomas_mandl] #JPN pic.twitter.com/oQ97u8jT0M
Thanks to #Japan for making Asia proud.
— kiran krishnan (@kirankris) July 2, 2018
Better luck next time, Congrats to Belgium.
Belgium won the match, Japan won our hearts.
Love from 🇮🇳
On Wednesday, Sweden plays Switzerland, and Colombia takes on England.
First published, July 2, 11:43 a.m. PT.
Update, 3:55 p.m. PT: Adds Neymar's reaction to Mexican coach's statement. Added Japan-Belgium links.