Neymar has drawn criticism for a seemingly ill-judged social media tribute to the late Stephen Hawking.
World renowned physicist Hawking died at his home in Cambridge on Wednesday, prompting an outpouring of affection.
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At 22, Hawking was diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease, the illness leaving him confined to a wheelchair and needing a voice synthesiser to speak.
Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil forward Neymar is recovering from a broken metatarsal in a bid to take part in his country’s World Cup campaign.
He tweeted: “You have to have a positive attitude and get the best out of the situation you are in. Stephen Hawking”
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The post was accompanied by a picture of Neymar gesturing happily in a wheelchair, with his foot in a surgical boot.
Many Twitter users responded, stating they felt the 26-year-old appearing to equate his struggle with an injury that will hinder him for a matter of weeks to Hawking’s half-century battle against a severely debilitating condition was in poor taste.
{{/usCountry}}Many Twitter users responded, stating they felt the 26-year-old appearing to equate his struggle with an injury that will hinder him for a matter of weeks to Hawking’s half-century battle against a severely debilitating condition was in poor taste.
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