Palmeiras forward Wesley has gone viral after his brilliant goal against Botafogo, which included a ridiculous eight stepovers in a matter of seconds.
In this part of the world we're reeling from the end of the football season, and having to make do with the dreadful scraps from a Nations League tournament that no one cares about.
Advert
However, in Brazil, as well as elsewhere, their league continues at pace and they're only 10 games into this year's Serie A campaign.
That means there's still the possibility of seeing some moments of genius, and 23-year-old Wesley provided one on Thursday night, as Palmeiras battered Botafogo.
The Brazilian showed his skill and speed as he left the opposition defender bamboozled with eight stepovers, before cutting inside, stopping, cutting again and then curling the ball past the keeper and perfectly into the top corner.
Palmeiras' video of the goal is particularly worth watching, just to see Wesley running with the Avengers towards Thanos, no jokes...
One commenter summed up the perfection of the goal, saying, "What more could that defender have done? Zero. Half an inch of space. Sends it top bins. Unstoppable. Perfect."
Advert
"Reports of the death of the stepover have been greatly exaggerated on this evidence!" another added, and he's got a point, no one seems to do them any more really. Although Mario Balotelli busted some out recently for an equally excellent goal.
"I donāt know anything about soccer/football but i know that was cold as hell," a third person put it, proving you don't need to know the game to be able to sum it up perfectly.
Perhaps the best way of describing a goal ever came in one reply, saying, "Oh my! That has to be what eating all of your favorite desserts without ever gaining weight tastes like!!!"
More praise for the defender added, "9 step overs and still had to stutter step to get his shot off. well defended honestly. ill give hin the shot placement."
Nine stepovers certainly feels like too many and the defender didn't really buy any of them, meaning they were generally just for aesthetics, but that only makes the goal even better.
Advert
Palmeiras got off to a rapid start in the game, with Rony and Gustavo Scarpa giving them a two goal lead inside the opening 20 minutes.
Rony then doubled his tally for the afternoon in the 33rd minute, as the hosts took a 3-0 lead into half time. It took until the 87th minute for them to add to their lead, but Wesley's goals certainly made it worth the wait.
The win means the defending Copa Libertadores champions, who have won it the past two years, are now second in the table, two points behind Corinthians but with a game in hand.
Botafogo on the other hand are only above the relegation zone on goal difference, though they have also played a game less than their rivals.
Topics:Ā Brazil
Ryan Sidle