Vasco da Gama midfielder Thiago Mendes ignored a pre-match handshake from Santos forward Neymar Jr. during a Brazilian Série A match on Sunday.
The incident highlights a lingering personal animosity between two high-profile players that persists despite their professional standing in the league.
The snub occurred during the standard pre-game handshake line, a ritual intended to show sportsmanship before kickoff [1, 2]. Video of the interaction quickly went viral, showing Neymar extending his hand only to be ignored by Mendes [1, 2].
This tension is rooted in a feud that is six years old [3]. The conflict stems from past on-field incidents between the two athletes, though the specific nature of the original disputes remains tied to their previous encounters in the league [3, 4].
Despite the pre-game friction, the match proceeded without further reported disciplinary issues between the pair. Santos dominated the contest, winning the match 3-0 [1].
The interaction underscores the volatile nature of rivalries in Brazilian football, where personal grievances often span multiple seasons, and clubs. While the match ended in a decisive victory for Santos, the social media reaction focused heavily on the lack of professional courtesy between the two stars.
“Thiago Mendes ignored a pre-match handshake from Santos forward Neymar Jr.”
The public nature of the snub demonstrates how long-term personal vendettas can overshadow the athletic competition in the Brazilian Série A. Because both players are influential figures, such displays of friction often fuel narrative-driven rivalries that increase viewership and social media engagement, regardless of the final score.
