Neymar mustn’t make a meal of his talent
Many moons ago I had the privilege to interview the great George Foreman. Like any reporter who doesn’t want to appear silly in the company of someone as distinguished as the former heavyweight champion of the world, I duly Googled the man as part of my research. And boy, was I surprised by what the search results were. Almost all the hits where related to the George Foreman Grill, the famous fat-free cooking device that bore his name. It was no coincidence that it was the manufacturers of the grill that brought him out to South Africa for marketing purposes.
More than three decades after taking the boxing world by storm, Foreman was better known for something that grilled meat than his once-mighty fistic prowess.
I just couldn’t resist starting our chat in that direction and the big fellow rumbled with laughter. “Tell me about it!” he roared. “Just the other day I was walking down the street and a woman with her two children came up to me. The mom said: ‘kids, you know who that is? He is none other than the former heavyweight boxing champion of the world and an Olympic gold medal winner’.
“The little one turned around to his mom with a look of utter disgust. ‘No he’s not ... it’s the grill guy’!”
I won’t go so far as to say the grill tarnished his image, but it was indeed sad that one of the true legends of boxing became better known for something as silly as a culinary concept than a professional record of 76-5 that actually stood at 40-0 when he met Muhammad Ali in the famous Rumble in the Jungle in 1974 in Kinshasa.
While watching the World Cup unfold in Russia over the past few weeks, something reminded me of Foreman’s case. Before you ask what Foreman and football can possibly have in common, just hear me out, there is method in my madness.
You’ve probably seen this guy playing for Brazil called Neymar. Nifty little fellow. Fast, lightning quick and very accurate. He has scored 57 goals for his country, putting him third on the list of alltime scorers for Brazil. And being still only 26, it is more a question of when rather than if he will break the great Pele’s mark of 77.
Despite only playing in five matches in Russia, he finished the tournament with 13 from 27 attempts on goal on target, the most by any player. To put this into perspective, France’s frontman Olivier Giroud played in seven matches, had one shot on goal in 15 attempts and went home with a winner’s medal.
But sadly, these impressive stats are dwarfed by the Brazilian’s silly on-field antics. Diving, falling down at will, clutching limbs and crying over a blade of grass brushing against his leg.
His behaviour has been a major talking point during the tournament and when you Google him, videos and images of Neymar curling around on the turf like a lost newborn dominate the results ahead of his fancy footwork, his selfless assists and his great goals. Very much like a famous grill salesman.
Foreman’s too old to revert back from chef to pugilist, but Neymar has time on his side. If he starts behaving and regains people’s respect, the footballing fraternity won’t begrudge a player of his ability a World Cup title four years from now in Qatar.
It will be a pity if he doesn’t at least try.