The Neymar-Mendes Cold War Is Back — And This Time, There Was No Handshake

An old Brazilian football feud resurfaced in dramatic fashion before Vasco da Gama and Santos met at São Januário, with Thiago Mendes refusing Neymar's attempted handshake before the two sides exchanged club pennants.

The tension added another layer to an already heated Brasileirão encounter — and Santos ultimately walked away with a 3-0 victory. [UOL +1]

The awkward moment came before the ball had even been kicked.

As the players went through the traditional pre-match greetings, Neymar extended his hand towards Mendes. The Vasco midfielder did not accept it, leaving the Santos captain's gesture hanging before the pair exchanged pennants instead.

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It was a small moment, but given the history between the two Brazilians, it immediately attracted attention.

And there is plenty of history.

This Rivalry Goes Back Years

Neymar and Mendes first developed bad blood during their time in French football.

The most serious incident came in 2020, when Mendes was playing for Lyon and was sent off during a Ligue 1 meeting with Paris Saint-Germain after a tackle that left Neymar with a significant ankle injury.

Mendes later apologised for the incident, but the episode became a defining chapter in the relationship between the two players.

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Their paths eventually crossed again after both returned to Brazilian football.

The tension did not disappear.

Things Escalated Earlier This Year

The latest chapter is not simply about Sunday's handshake.

The two players had already clashed during an earlier Vasco-Santos meeting in February.

During that match, Neymar and Mendes became involved in a heated confrontation, with both players receiving yellow cards. Neymar later criticised Mendes publicly and referred back to their previous encounter in France.

Mendes, meanwhile, defended his actions and said he was simply competing for his team.

That encounter ensured there was already plenty of background when the teams met again.

Then Came the Awkward Handshake

Sunday's pre-match ceremony provided the latest talking point.

Mendes' decision not to shake Neymar's hand was immediately noticed, particularly because the Santos forward had clearly offered the gesture.

The two players did, however, exchange pennants before taking their places for the match.

There was no need for a confrontation at that moment.

But the message was clear enough.

The relationship between the pair remains far from friendly.

Neymar Had the Last Word on the Pitch

If Mendes' refusal to shake hands was intended to create a tense atmosphere, Neymar responded in the most important way possible — through his performance.

Santos produced a convincing 3-0 victory, with Gabriel Barbosa opening the scoring before Willian Arão and Luan Peres completed the win.

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Neymar did not score, but he played a direct role in two of Santos' goals.

His free-kick delivery was involved in Arão's goal, while another Neymar set piece eventually resulted in Peres finding the net after goalkeeper Léo Jardim failed to hold the ball.

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It was therefore an important afternoon for Neymar individually and Santos collectively.

Santos Needed This Result

The victory was bigger than the rivalry.

Santos arrived at São Januário fighting to move away from the relegation zone, while Vasco were also under pressure near the bottom of the Brasileirão table.

The three points moved Santos up to 25 points and temporarily out of the relegation places, while Vasco remained on 22 points and dropped further into trouble.

For Cuca's side, it was exactly the kind of result they needed.

For Vasco, it extended a difficult run and left supporters frustrated at the final whistle.

But the Handshake Will Dominate the Headlines

Despite the result, the pre-match exchange is likely to remain one of the most discussed moments.

Football rivalries often develop through competitive incidents, disagreements and history.

The Neymar-Mendes story has all three.

From the original clash in France to their arguments in Brazil and now the refusal to shake hands, every meeting between the pair carries an additional layer of intrigue.

And Sunday suggested that the tension has not disappeared.

Fan Debate

●🔥 Fire: Is the Neymar-Mendes feud now one of Brazilian football's most intriguing rivalries?

●😲 Shock: Were you surprised Mendes refused Neymar's handshake?

●⚽ Goal: How important could Santos' 3-0 win prove?

●💬 Comment: Who had the better afternoon — Neymar or Mendes?