Goal, assist, dive: Neymar 'hat trick' sends Brazil to World Cup quarter-finals

Flaunting his flair and his finishing touch wasn't enough. Neymar put his theatrics on show, too.

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What became clear in Brazil's 2-0 victory over Mexico on Monday is that the wild side of the striker's character is going nowhere at this year's World Cup. And neither is Brazil.

"I don't much care for criticism," Neymar said, "not even for praise."

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Neymar led Brazil to a 2-0 victory over Mexico, while Nacer Chadli scored in the 94th minute to cap a 3-2 Belgium comeback over Japan.

With a goal and an assist, Neymar propelled Brazil into the quarter-finals of a tournament it has won five times. He also extended his platform to show the world he is as good or better than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Although Neymar has scored only two goals in four games in Russia, he did enter the World Cup after spending three months recovering from a broken right foot. And it was the right foot that helped to break through Mexico's stern resistance in Samara.

After releasing Willian with a back-heel, Neymar raced into the penalty area and slid to tap his teammate's return cross into the net.

While his scoring is so often the focus, Neymar also creates goals for his teammates. A toe-poked attempt to beat Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in the 88th minute was diverted into the path of Robert Firmino, who scored with a tap-in just like Neymar did. The world's most expensive player has 11 goals and nine assists in his last 19 games for Brazil.

But before setting up the second goal it looked like Neymar's game or even his World Cup could be over with 20 minutes to go. It turned out to be pure histrionics. Writhing in agony after his right ankle was stepped on by Miguel Layun, Neymar managed to get back on his feet. But not before trying to step on Layun.

Both escaped punishment, but the judgment elsewhere was less forgiving, with Neymar asked after the match if he was a diva trying to draw fouls.

"I think it's more an attempt to undermine me than anything else," Neymar responded.

The five-time World Cup champions will next face either Japan or Belgium in the quarterfinals. Brazil has reached that stage at every World Cup since 1994.

Mexico has now lost in the round of 16 at every tournament over the same period of time, extending its wait for the "quinto partido" or fifth game for at least another four years. The last time Mexico reached the quarterfinals was when the country hosted the tournament in 1986.

This year's World Cup had started so promisingly for Mexico. The team opened with a win over Germany, setting the defending champions on the path to an early exit. They caused problems for Brazil, too, initially.

But they couldn't find a way to stop Neymar.

"He's very agile. He's very fast," Brazil coach Tite said. "Is it wrong to feign, to provoke the players in the last third? It's not a sin."