West Ham star Mohammed Kudus has the last laugh on haters after his big Neymar claim which saw him mocked and ridiculed.
In this modern age of social media and celebrity some love to build people up just so they can tear them down.
And that is all too evident across football too.
But one West Ham player looks set to keep on rising above the naysayers. Or should that be Neymar-sayers.
It says everything about the electric start Mohammed Kudus has made to life at West Ham that he is already being sorely missed before he kicks a ball in anger at AFCON.
The Hammers look set to be denied the services of star boy Kudus until the turn of the month at the earliest.
Kudus has last laugh on haters after Neymar claim
And the brilliant 23-year-old’s absence has already been felt in poor draws with Brighton and Championship side Bristol City who then dumped the Hammers out in the replay this week.
Anyone who watched Ajax – or Ghana for that matter – prior to Kudus’ move to east London would have known West Ham were getting a proper player.
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But his brilliant brace and man of the match performance for the Black Stars in a 2-2 draw with Egypt underlined everything he has been showing in east London.
Kudus is fast emerging as one of the best attacking players, not only in Europe, but anywhere.
It’s a status he knew he would achieve but few took him seriously.
Brazil v Ghana – International Friendly
Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
‘He’s not better than me’
Now West Ham star Kudus is having the last laugh on haters after his big Neymar claim.
Back in November 2022, Kudus – then still with Ajax – did an interview with The Guardian which came in the wake of a feisty encounter with Brazil legend Neymar when Ghana played Brazil.
The new West Ham hero and Neymar clashed throughout the World Cup warm-up friendly in which Kudus shone despite a defeat.
One particular flashpoint saw the pair exchange niggles before a heated row.
‘He’s just higher profile’
And in the interview Kudus claimed he was just as good a player as Neymar, saying the Brazilian was simply more high profile and established.
“He’s not better than me. He’s just a higher profile player, that’s all,” Kudus said.
“He was defending his country and I was defending mine. I wasn’t about to let him push me around.
“What makes him better, for now, is that he has achieved a lot. I’ll get there soon.”
West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers – Premier League
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Well helping fire West Ham into the Premier League top six and Europa League last 16 having already starred for Ajax on the Champions League stage means he certainly is ‘getting there’.
Kudus was abused and belittled for his claim.
You only need to scroll through some of the comments and the backlash from the social media post of the article.
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So much West Ham’s new serial sitter had to come out and try to clarify that he meant no disrespect.
Well now he’s having the last laugh.
While Neymar ends his days barely playing in the football backwater that is Qatar, Kudus is the rising star right now.
And West Ham United are the beneficiaries of his brilliance.
Long may it continue.
