Neymar is one of the most highly touted young soccer players on earth, but even he screws up from time to time.
The Brazilian phenom missed a penalty kick on Wednesday, earning himself a place on this week’s blooper reel in the process.
The incident took place in a Recopa Sudamerica game between Santos and Universidad de Chile. The one-round two-legged competition pits the champion of last year’s Copa Libertadores against the winner of the Copa Sudamerica for continental bragging rights. It often gets overlooked in the global press, unless something like this happens.
In fairness, Neymar did most of the heavy lifting to get to the penalty spot. He tricked his way into the Universidad area before he was fouled by Sebastian Martinez.
The Santos star stepped forward — as he has done dozens of times before — to give his team an early lead. Ever the showman, Neymar took two dramatic, giant side steps before starting his run up. He reached the ball and planted his foot, but it slipped on the wet grass.
Needles to say, Neymar’s shot went nowhere near the goal. It’s likely that the ball crossed the running track, skipped over the moat and ended up in the stands. The 20-year-old Brazilian lay on his back, ruing his bad luck.
Neymar won’t join Jonathan Soriano in the hall of penalty kick shame, but it does show he may need more seasoning before he graces the rain-and-sprinkler-slicked surfaces of European soccer.
The contest ended in a scoreless draw. The two teams will meet again on Sept. 26 in Brazil.
Watch Neymar’s sky his penalty in the video below.
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