Six Years of Bad Blood: Why Thiago Mendes Snubbed Neymar in the Handshake Line

Sunday's Brasileirão fixture between Vasco da Gama and Santos was always going to have an edge, but the biggest flashpoint arrived before the first whistle. As the two sets of players lined up for the traditional pre-match handshake, Santos' Neymar extended his palm towards Vasco midfielder Thiago Mendes – and was met with a stone-cold brush-off. The cameras caught every second: Mendes walked straight past, leaving Neymar hanging in a moment that instantly went viral. It wasn't just a bit of pre-match needle; it was the latest chapter in a feud that has been simmering for six years.

What happened

At São Januário, Vasco's iconic home ground, the handshake line is usually a formality. Not this time. Neymar, returning to Santos after a spell in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal, was in the lineup for the visitors. Mendes, the Vasco anchor, made a point of skipping him. There were no words, no gestures – just a deliberate snub that spoke louder than any tackle. The match itself carried points and pride, but the conversation afterwards was dominated by that frozen moment. Fans on social media immediately picked up on the tension, and the footage was replayed endlessly.

This wasn't an accident. Mendes knew exactly what he was doing. The six-year timeline points to a long-standing grievance, one that neither player has seen fit to explain in public. But the message was clear: there is no love lost between these two.

The roots of the feud

To understand the bad blood, you have to look back at the shared history. Both Neymar and Mendes came through the Santos youth ranks, with Mendes breaking into the first team around the same time Neymar was lighting up the Campeonato Brasileiro. They were teammates at Vila Belmiro, part of a golden generation that made Santos a force again. But football moves fast. Neymar's trajectory shot into the stratosphere – Barcelona, PSG, world superstardom – while Mendes carved out a respectable career in France with Lille and Lyon before returning to Brazil with Vasco.

Exactly what sparked their falling out remains unclear. It could have been a disagreement during their early days, a clash of egos, or something more personal. Six years ago would put the timeline around 2019, when Mendes was at Lyon and Neymar was at PSG – a period when Neymar's dominance and attitude were frequent topics of debate. Without direct comments from either player, we're left to connect the dots. Yet the body language on Sunday suggested this isn't just a minor misunderstanding; it's a genuine rift that has been allowed to fester.

What it means

This snub adds an extra layer of spice to an already compelling rivalry. For Neymar, it's a reminder that his return to Brazil hasn't erased old enemies. For Mendes, it's a statement that he isn't intimidated by the big names – even one of the greatest Brazilian players of his generation. The timing matters too: with Neymar's homecoming generating massive attention, every flashpoint becomes a headline.

Looking ahead, the next meeting between Vasco and Santos will be circled on the calendar. Expect fireworks, both in the handshake line and on the pitch. Mendes has thrown down the gauntlet, and Neymar, never one to let a slight go unanswered, will surely have his say when the opportunity arises. The feud is six years old, but it feels far from over.