Neymar Jr: Diver or Footballer?

Gurleen Gakhal

Abstract


Neymar Jr, a player for Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and the Brazilian national team, is one of the best footballers in the world. He is known for theatrically falling (diving) to the ground in matches to win fouls. During PSG’s pre‑season match vs Gamba Osaka, Neymar’s right ankle was clipped by the opposition’s defender. He fell to the ground in agony and was awarded a penalty. This was very controversial, and many people accused him of blatantly diving. This paper argues that he is not diving in this case and due to his previous injuries on the same ankle and a fast reflex, he lost his balance and fell to the ground.


Keywords


Sports; Biology; Sports Science; Football; Reflex; Neymar Jr

Full Text:

PDF

References


Kennedy, F. (2022). Neymar steals headlines during PSG’s huge 6-2 win over Gamba Osaka. [online] SportsBrief - Sport news. Available at: https://sportsbrief.com/football/paris-saint-germain/20727-fans-slam-neymar-shameless-dive-psg-friendly-gamba-osaka/ [Accessed 22nd March 2023].

Transfer markt, (2023). #10 Neymar. [online] Available at: https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/neymar/erfolge/spieler/68290 [Accessed 10th February 2023].

Pisa, G. (2022). Watch Neymar’s ‘world-class dive’ to win penalty in meaningless PSG friendly. [online] The Sun. Available at: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/19309735/neymar-dive-video-psg-friendly-gamba-osaka/ [Accessed 21st March 2023].

Transfer markt (2023) Neymar - Injury history. [online] Available at: https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/neymar/verletzungen/spieler/68290 [Accessed 21st March 2023].

Reuters (2023). PSG’s Neymar out for rest of season with ankle ligament injury. The Guardian. [online] 6 Mar. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/06/neymar-psg-out-for-rest-of-season-ankle-ligament-injury [Accessed 23rd March 2023].

Guardian sport (2018). European roundup: Neymar suffers fractured metatarsal in blow to PSG. The Guardian. [online] 27 Feb. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/feb/27/european-roundup-neymar-suffers-fractured-metatarsal-in-blow-to-psg [Accessed 23rd March 2023].

Diario AS. (2019). PSG hid extent of Neymar’s ankle injury in 2018. [online] Available at: https://en.as.com/en/2019/03/02/soccer/1551541017_996359.html [Accessed 23rd March 2023].

Healthline. (2022). Fracture of the 5th Metatarsal: Types, Symptoms, and Treatment. [online] Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/fracture-of-the-5th-metatarsal#causes [Accessed 23rd March 2023].

Cleveland Clinic. (2021). Avulsion Fracture: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Recovery. [online] Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21802-avulsion-fracture [Accessed 23rd March 2023)

Minnesota Valley Surgery Center (2021). Can Torn Ligaments Heal On Their Own? When To Consider Surgery. [online] Minnesota Valley Surgery Center. Available at: https://minnesotavalleysurgerycenter.com/orthopedic-surgery/can-torn-ligaments-heal-on-their-own-when-to-consider-surgery/ [Accessed 23rd March 2023].

Zhao, Y., Zhang, H., Li, N., Li, J. & Zhang, L. (2022). Chronic Pain after Bone Fracture: Current Insights into Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies. Brain Sciences, 12(8), p.1056. DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12081056

Greater Washington Advanced Podiatry, LLC. (n.d.). Will I have weak ankles after a sprain or fracture? [online] Available at: https://www.gwapodiatry.com/faqs/weak-ankles-after-a-sprain-or-fracture.cfm [Accessed 23rd March 2023].

Derderian, C., Shumway, K.R & Tadi, P. (2023). Physiology, Withdrawal Response. [online] PubMed. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544292/ [Accessed 23rd March 2023].

Croft, J.L. (2019). The science of parkour, the sport that seems reckless but takes poise and skill. [online] The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/the-science-of-parkour-the-sport-that-seems-reckless-but-takes-poise-and-skill-110881 [Accessed 15th February 2023].


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.
We use both functional and performance cookies to improve visitor experience. Continue browsing if you are happy to accept cookies. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.
OK