Neymar trolls economist who predicted Brazil's early exit

German economist Joachim Klemm had created a stir in the football world since the 2014 World Cup with his accurate predictions. According to his mathematical model for the ongoing 2026 World Cup, the Netherlands would be champions and five-time winners Brazil would be the tournament's biggest disappointment.

However, Brazil's dramatic comeback on the pitch has proved the mathematical calculations wrong. And after the match, Brazilian poster boy Neymar Junior did not miss the chance to take a dig at the 'prophet' economist on social media.

Brazil faced Japan in the last-32 match on Monday, June 29. When Japan's Kaishu Sano scored in the 29th minute to give his side the lead, many thought Klemm's prediction might come true.

But Brazil equalised through Casemiro in the 54th minute of the second half. Then, in the sixth minute of stoppage time (90+6), Gabriel Martinelli scored a stunning goal to secure Brazil's place in the last 16.

After the dramatic win, Neymar posted on social media platform X, directly tagging Joachim Klemm: "Mr Joachim Klemm... try again at the next World Cup."

The German economist had used unconventional variables such as GDP per capita, population and temperature to make his predictions. His research paper, published on April 9, claimed the Netherlands would beat Portugal in the final to become champions, while Brazil would exit early. However, the familiar romance of on-field football has, for now, proven those complex mathematical equations wrong.