Neymar and Thiago Mendes feud erupts again after pre-match snub
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Thiago Mendes refused to shake Neymar's hand before Vasco faced Santos.
- The pair's feud dates back to a serious Neymar injury in 2020.
- Santos won 3-0, with the handshake snub dominating the headlines.
The awkward moment took place at São Januário before Vasco hosted Santos in the Campeonato Brasileiro.
Thiago Mendes leaves Neymar's hand hanging
The incident happened before kick-off as both teams moved through the customary line of handshakes.Mendes appeared to deliberately bypass Neymar rather than accept the Santos captain's handshake, leaving the forward with his hand extended.
Neymar briefly smiled before turning his attention towards the match officials, but the incident was quickly picked up by television cameras and spread across social media.
الاسطورة نيمار يمد يده ليصافح تياغو مينديز ولكنه يتجاهل نيمار 😨😨😨😨😨😨😨😨 pic.twitter.com/rYOAdTpbgR
— Team Neymar (@TeamNey10) August 16, 2026
Neymar has his say after the snub
Following the incident, Neymar was asked about Mendes' decision not to shake his hand.To be honest, I don't care much about that guy. To me, he is a nobody.
I wasn't even thinking much about him in today's match because I don't care.
The feud dates back to 2020
The hostility between Neymar and Mendes has its roots in a Ligue 1 meeting between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon in December 2020.Mendes was sent off following a heavy challenge on Neymar, who was forced to leave the pitch in tears after suffering an ankle injury.
The midfielder later apologised publicly and said he hoped Neymar had not suffered a serious injury. Neymar was subsequently diagnosed with a left-ankle sprain and missed a period of action.
Neymar's father, Neymar Sr, was far less forgiving.
He strongly criticised the challenge on social media, arguing that Neymar had been subjected to repeated heavy fouls during the match and questioning whether football was doing enough to protect players.
The incident left a lasting impression and would become a reference point whenever the two players crossed paths again.
Neymar and Mendes clash again in Brazil
Their rivalry resurfaced after both players returned to Brazilian football.During another meeting between Santos and Vasco earlier in 2026, Neymar became involved in a heated confrontation with Mendes following a foul.
The argument escalated on the pitch, with Neymar falling to the ground after Mendes made contact with his face. Both players were shown yellow cards following the altercation.
The disagreement continued beyond the initial incident, with the 2020 challenge in France reportedly becoming part of their exchange.
Neymar was subsequently highly critical of Mendes when speaking to SporTV.
He always wants to start trouble, he always wants to act like a tough guy, it's always like that. With all respect, he's an idiot.
Santos beat Vasco 3-0
Despite the pre-match drama, Santos ultimately had the last word on the pitch.Santos secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Vasco, with goals from Gabriel Barbosa, Willian Arão and Luan Peres.
The result was particularly important for Santos as they looked to move away from the relegation battle.
Whilst the result mattered most to the club, the confrontation between Neymar and Mendes quickly became one of the biggest talking points surrounding the match.
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