Neymar at Russia 2018 came out with the reputation of a farceur, but behind everything else, there is a man who is already Brazil’s third highest goalscorer.

Neymar: The Starman. (Art by Debanjan Chowdhury) — **Neymar**: The Starman. (Art by Debanjan Chowdhury)

Brazil versus Mexico, July 2018. Neymar’s finished his seventh roll on the floor and is writhing about in exaggerated agony even as the world watches and prepares to flay him for it. Since, the media has been flooded with everyone and their grandmum’s dogs having an opinion, particularly in the non-Brazilian outlets. On the other hand, Brazilian newspaper Globo ran a headline titled “Neymar has charmed Brazil but annoyed the whole world.”

To understand that, one must go back in time.

Barcelona versus Villareal, November 2015. The move is started by Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, who passes it wide to teammate Luis Suarez, before running into the opposition box, ready to receive the ball he knows is coming. He flicks it over his head, swivels around, and neatly slots it into the back of the net. All in the blink of an eye. His languid grace makes it look easy, joyful, this move and all his other tricks honed during his futsal and street football days. The sombrero kick, arcing like a rainbow that gives it its other name. There’s more than a touch of the ginga to it and therein lies the crux of what Neymar means to Brazil and Brazilian football.