Richarlison's heroics powered Brazil to a 2-0 win over Serbia in their Qatar World Cup 2022 opener on Thursday. One of the two goals scored by the Tottenham Hotspur star was a breathtaking display of acrobatics, which fans are now dubbing as 'goal of the tournament'.
Breathtaking. Scintillating. Exhilarating. Words are not enough to describe Brazilian superstar Richarlison's heroics in the team's 2-0 victory over Serbia in their Qatar World Cup 2022 opener on Thursday. Doha's Lusail Stadium witnessed the Tottenham Hotspur star's magic not once but twice as he powered the five-time champions to a convincing victory.
The Seleçao had to wait until the 26th minute for their first shot on goal in a scoreless first half, which is the second-longest time since records began keeping track of World Cup games in 1966. However, in the second half, Brazil came out all guns blazing and displayed a fine attacking show in front of a stadium packed with fans from the South American nation. In the 62nd minute of the clash, Vinicius Junior curled a cross from Neymar at the goal, which Milinkovic-Savic saved, only for Richarlison to follow up the opening goal - his 8th strike in the last seven caps.
Ten minutes later, Richarlison weaved magic. He took his international goalscoring tally to nine with the 'goal of the tournament' so far, as he produced a mind-blowing acrobatic overhead kick after a sensational first-time touch. Brazilian fans seated on their chairs in the stadium jumped in joy and disbelief. Even a hundred replays of the Tottenham star's effort wouldn't be enough to digest what had happened in the showpiece event.
Richarlison! What have you done?! 🤯 | pic.twitter.com/kCKFdlINXq
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup)Two goals from Richarlison saw a vibrant Brazil, who are one of the favourites to lift this year's coveted trophy, start their World Cup 2022 campaign with a bang and grab their three points in Group G. Supporters of the team took to Twitter to celebrate Richarlison's heroics, particularly the second goal.
"Goal of the tournament in the bag," wrote one fan on Twitter, while another added, "This man is a BALLER."
"Awesome control and outrageously graceful finish! #Richarlison," noted a third Brazilian supporter, while a fourth remarked, "This photo deserves to be in the history books, thanks Richarlison!"
Here's a look at some of the other reactions on Twitter:
Goal of the tournament in the bag🔥 https://t.co/4Bu8pJJafm
— Craig Crowley (@CraigCrowley_1)RICHARLISON THAT WAS OUTRAGEOUS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/kcQYUYvMDi
— GOAL (@goal)KNEW I SEEN IT SOMEWHERE https://t.co/0mLLBqwlOH pic.twitter.com/ZcX5x30Ary
— ☔ (@43221_)this man is a BALLER https://t.co/CaL31CQ9eO
— lana (@lltahaa)Awesome control and outrageously graceful finish! https://t.co/XFt9SdkSgX
— Raju Sonawane (@S0NAWANERAJU)Richarlison man of the match.
Brazil 🇧🇷 have been in every single World Cup since 1930. Another one for team.
Consistency. pic.twitter.com/Sl9gST5vhL
Richarlison for Brazil hits different. 😤 pic.twitter.com/9wjUOTu96k
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo)Richarlison was preparing his goal in training…🤣🤣🤣
pic.twitter.com/L5Em1akyvc
WHAT A GOAL — RICHARLISON pic.twitter.com/hZCaDcUVHk
— Thierry Nyann 🇬🇭 (@nyannthierry)Stunning moment of improvised clinicality by Richarlison. 25-Year-Old grew up around poverty and violence in a Brazilian steel town. Like millions he’d have dreamed of scoring World Cup goals like this as a kid. Unlike rest of us, he just made it real 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/2KSpCwy2ac
— roger bennett (@rogbennett)What a World Cup debut 👏🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/ICblgjbbHn
— Scarfey Spurs Talk (@ScarfeySpurTalk)Serbian fans returning to their hotels just to see Richarlison goal again on the TV pic.twitter.com/Iw9zY07mtc
— Majin (@zootedupwest)The best goal of the tournament so far!! 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/IqbE9Riudr
— Rodolfo Landeros (@RodolfoLanderos)What a goal
Richarlison
This is the excitement we have been waiting for from World Cup. We need to see more of this. Peter Drury want more of this pic.twitter.com/owwCWMAnHz
Richarlison may have just scored the goal of the tournament! Take a bow, son! 🤌pic.twitter.com/G4lHNxwChV
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA)I loved Martin Keown on BBC saying “you know, that’s not an easy finish”. Thanks for that one 😂 https://t.co/11JFraKiIt
— Kieran Davey (@KieranDavey1)Very Specia goal from RICHARDSON, goal of the tournament so far https://t.co/QFo9mGiEu6
— Murphy K (@Muphyk)Richarlson really said “lemme show you how it’s done” 😭 https://t.co/CcyQX8S0Y4
— Amina 🍒 (@AminaCufurovic)