Claim: A video purportedly shows Neymar Jr. scoring a bicycle kick in front of Lionel Messi during a football match.
Conclusion: The claim is false. There is no evidence that Neymar Jr. scored such a bicycle kick in front of Messi. The viral video is AI-generated and depicts a fictional moment that never took place.
Rating: False 
Several social media users have shared a video showcasing Neymar Jr. scoring a bicycle kick in front of Messi. Facebook user ‘Manoj Patel’ shared such a video on June 25, 2026. Attached to the post is a 12 second video that allegedly shows Neymar Jr. dribbling before scoring an acrobatic bicycle kick in front of Messi, during a match between Brazil and Argentina. View the post below –
Other users have shared similar claims that can be seen here and on Instagram here
FACT CHECK
DigitEYE India decided to investigate this claim and found it to be false. There is no evidence from official match records or credible sports reports that Neymar Jr. scored a bicycle kick in front of Lionel Messi. The viral video is AI-generated and depicts a fictional football moment rather than a real match.
Details:
We first conducted a reverse image search on various keyframes of the video to learn about the origin. However, we could not locate a single source and this viral video has been shared by several unverified accounts. None of the search results directed us to any credible media outlet or sports house.
Next, we took a look at the current FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule to learn more about the matchup. Brazil is in Group C in this current FIFA season with Morocco, Scotland and Haiti as their rivals, not Argentina. According to a report by SportsAdda Asia, Brazil is set to face Norway in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 5, 2026 (July 6 at 1:30 am IST).
Next, we searched when Argentina and Brazil last faced each other and whether Neymar Jr. scored such a goal. According to an ESPN match report, the two sides met in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on November 21, 2023, at the Maracanã Stadium, where Argentina secured a 1-0 victory. The only goal of the match was scored by Nicolás Otamendi with a header in the 63rd minute.
DigitEYE India noticed several inconsistencies with the video as the movements appear unnaturally smooth. Moreover, Messi is shown defending deep inside his own penalty area as a centre-back which is unusual. The bicycle kick by Neymar Jr. exhibits common AI-generated artifacts with him turning and aiming mid air.
We downloaded the video in the claim and ran various keyframes through an AI detector to check its authenticity. The results proved that parts of the video was generated by AI and no such real event occurred. View a screenshot of the results below –
Thus, the claim is false.
