Neymar faces criticism from media despite not playing in Brazil's World Cup opening match
Brazilian superstar Neymar was under fire following Brazil's 1-1 draw against Morocco in their 2026 World Cup Group C opener, despite the forward not playing a single minute due to injury.
Neymar remained sidelined as he continues to recover from a muscle injury. Ahead of the match, head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed the 34-year-old was not yet match-fit. Neymar was still listed among the substitutes and joined the team on the bench at MetLife Stadium.
His presence became a major talking point in Spain. According to Mundo Deportivo, the Brazilian forward sat on the bench wearing a backward white cap, gold chains, a gold watch and matching earrings. This attire drew harsh criticism from two famous Spanish commentators, Manolo Lama and Julio "Maldini" Maldonado, during their live broadcast.
"The cameras keep focusing on Neymar, it's driving me crazy. Look at him with that earring and that baseball cap," Lama complained.
Maldonado agreed that the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star's appearance was not appropriate.
"That's not professional. It would be fine if he were in the VIP area, but this is the bench," Maldonado said.
Lama continued to express his visible frustration and said, "Not professional at all. What's the point of sitting on the bench with gold chains and watches? To promote a brand?"
The criticism quickly gained traction across social media, since Neymar had not contributed on the pitch. However, Brazilian fans offered a completely different perspective, praising his off-field impact.
Despite not playing, Neymar remained highly active on the touchline. During a hydration break, he was filmed having talks with teammates Vinicius Jr. and Bruno Guimaraes.
Many fans described the veteran forward as an unofficial assistant coach, constantly giving instructions and motivating the team from the technical area.
Notably, just minutes after that exchange, Brazil found their equalizer. In a link-up play, Guimaraes provided the assist for Vinicius, bringing the match to a 1-1 draw.
This led fans to flood social media with praise for Neymar. According to SPORTbible, numerous supporters argued that his actions demonstrated leadership and a positive influence on the squad, even when he's not playing.
Neymar is currently the most experienced player on Brazil's 2026 World Cup roster. The all-time leading goalscorer for the national team previously represented his country at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
His later career has been severely hampered by injuries. These fitness issues have delayed his debut under Ancelotti on the World Cup stage, with his last official appearance for the national team dating back nearly three years to October 2023.
Neymar before the 1-1 draw of Brazil against Morocco in Group C of the World Cup at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York, USA, on June 13, 2026. Photo by AP
Neymar gives instructions to teammates Vinicius Jr. and Bruno Guimaraes during the hydration break of Brazil's 2026 World Cup group stage match against Morocco, minutes for these two set up the equalizer for Brazil.
