Oscar-winning actor Brad Pitt offers to ‘show Neymar how to sell the scene’

Brad Pitt has spent decades perfecting his craft on screen, but the Hollywood star believes Neymar could use some help with his performances on the football pitch.

During an interview with Esquire Brazil, the 62-year-old Oscar-winning actor was watching World Cup match between Paraguay and Germany on June 30 when a Paraguayan player went down dramatically after a challenge, prompting Pitt to take aim at footballers’ tendency to exaggerate fouls and single out Neymar.

“I’m going to start a course to teach ‘simulation’, because these guys are terrible,” Pitt said, before getting up and mimicking an exaggerated fall.

“It’s one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen,” he said. “I know diving is part of the game, but, man, they need a lot of help.”

Pitt then turned his attention to Neymar.

“And I’m going to start with Neymar, because as balletic as he is on the field, man, he needs help,” he said. “I’m going to show him how to sell the scene, how to do it subtly, how not to exaggerate to make it look real. I have a whole curriculum ready.”

The comments come at an interesting moment in Neymar’s career, with the Brazil forward having recently brought his international future into focus.

Neymar said in July that his “time with Brazil has come to an end” after the Selecao were eliminated by Norway in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. He returned to the national team after nearly three years away, coming off the bench in the group-stage win over Scotland before scoring Brazil’s consolation goal against Norway.

The 34-year-old has also left his club future open beyond the end of his contract with Santos in December.

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