Neymar Under Fire For Insensible Stephen Hawkings ‘Tribute’

Neymar’s ‘tribute’ to Stephen Hawking has been widely derided on social media. The PSG star posted a photo of himself topless in a wheelchair, his lower leg in a protective boot, and shared a Hawking quote on overcoming adversity.

The visionary scientist died on Wednesday aged 76 and was wheelchair bound for decades, suffering with a rare form of motor neurone disease.

The world’s most expensive footballer’s ill-judged comparison with his own ‘adversity’, recovering from a foot injury whilst working on his tan, has rightly been mocked.

He wrote: ‘You have to have a positive attitude and get the best out of the situation you are in.

‘Stephen Hawking.’

No doubt Neymar’s message was well intentioned, but came across as laughably self-centred on a day when many chose to remember the extraordinary scientist for his legacy and achievements.

One Twitter user remarked: ‘Neymar’s temporary wheelchair situation is profoundly minor compared to the lifetime wheelchair situation Hawking had.’

And another wrote: ‘Pretty sure Neymar is in no condition to compare physical situations…. to Stephen Hawking.’

At 22-years-old Hawking was given only a few years to live but defied the odds to contribute groundbreaking work on black holes and relativity.

Neymar moved to PSG for £198million in the summer and is looking to maintain a ‘positive mental attitude’ in his bid to be fit for the World Cup.