Brazilian football star Neymar has apologised after allegedly slapping Robinho Jr, a teenage player for Santos FC, during a training session.
According to media reports, the incident occurred after 18-year-old Robinho Jr skillfully dribbled past Neymar in practice, reportedly frustrating the senior star, who then allegedly struck the youngster in the face. The incident quickly drew attention within the club and among football fans on social media.
The club administration launched an investigation into the incident, but a statement released on Tuesday said the matter had been resolved amicably between the two players.
Neymar later admitted his mistake to the media, saying he had crossed the line and regretted his reaction. He added that tense moments sometimes happen between friends and teammates in football and that such incidents are part of the game.
In a further gesture of reconciliation, Neymar hugged Robinho Jr after scoring a goal in a Copa Sudamericana match. Robinho Jr also said that Neymar immediately acknowledged his mistake and had apologised several times.
On the other hand, with less than a month remaining until the kickoff of the FIFA World Cup 2026, excitement is building worldwide, while speculation surrounding star striker Lionel Messi continues to dominate headlines.
The world’s biggest football tournament will officially begin on June 11, marking the start of a historic edition of the FIFA World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the very first time.
FIFA World Cup 2026 will also be the largest tournament in football history, featuring 48 national teams for the first time. The competition will continue until July 19, with a record-breaking 104 matches set to be played across North America.
The opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, while the final will be held at MetLife Stadium near New York.
FIFA has assigned matches to 16 different host cities. The United States will host 78 matches, while Canada and Mexico will each host 13 matches.
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