Neymar's run-up is closer to a dance routine than a sprint. He shuffles, slows, stutters, and the goalkeeper is left guessing when the shot is coming, where it is going and what he might try on the way. It is among the most distinctive penalty techniques in world football, and it annoys keepers enormously.
It also works. Neymar kept a conversion rate above 85% through his spells at Santos, Barcelona and PSG. For Brazil he has scored important penalties in World Cup qualifiers and at Copa América tournaments, which is no small thing given the weight that comes with the yellow shirt.
At PSG he took the penalty duties ahead of Edinson Cavani, and the arrangement caused some dressing-room drama along the way.
Is the samba run-up a gimmick?
Not really. The trick is the late decision. By delaying the moment he commits, Neymar lets the goalkeeper move first, then places the ball where the keeper is not. The run-up is showmanship, but the placement underneath it is precise.
Love him or not, he is almost impossible to stop from 12 yards and the most entertaining taker in the modern game. Number 12.
Tomorrow: number 11.
