Neymar paid tribute to the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant with a goal celebration in Paris St-Germain’s win at Lille.
Confirmation of the five-time NBA champion’s death in a helicopter crash came during the Ligue 1 game. The basketball legend Kobe Bryant’s death shocked the world. Neymar gave PSG the lead with a 20-yard curling effort in the first half.
After scoring a second-half penalty, he dedicated his second to the basketball legend. The Brazilian held up two fingers on one hand and four on the other. The gesture marked Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers shirt number 24.
The Brazilian international, who is a basketball fan and had met Bryant also bowed and pointed to the sky.
Neymar slotted home the 52nd-minute penalty and went over to television camera by the side of the Stade Pierre Mauroy pitch to make the number 24 with his fingers in honor of Bryant’s shirt number.
“It’s deeply saddening for the world of sport and all of us.” Said Neymar.
“Not just for basketball fans but for everything he did for the sport.”
Neymar’s 12th goal of the season tipped the balance in the Parisian’s favor after a positive start for the home side.
The Brazilian almost immediately slipped through Mbappe but the onrushing Mike Maignan stopped the France World Cup winner from clinching his 14th top-flight effort of the campaign.
Mbappe was stopped again by Maignan when he got his body in the way of a fierce close-range effort. But the away side was awarded a penalty soon after for a cleat Gabriel handball just before the forward’s shot.
Neymar squeezed his spot-kick just beyond Maignan who git his hand to the shot but looked on in horror as it made its way in off the post.