Mark Zuckerberg challenges Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar to a ‘keepie uppie’ contest

Facebook’s head honcho, Mark Zuckerberg, has challenged Brazilian soccer star Neymar to a contest of keepie uppie (or “keepy-ups,” if your prefer).

For the uninitiated, “keepie uppie” is the art of juggling a soccer ball using any part of your body other than your hands / arms — without letting the ball touch the ground. Zuckerberg isn’t known for his soccer prowess, which is why he’s not challenging the Barcelona FC forward to a real game of keepie uppie; instead he’s laid down the gauntlet for a digital version of the game “hidden” inside Facebook Messenger.

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The game was first unveiled last month to coincide with the launch of the Euro 2016 and Copa América soccer tournaments. To start, send a little soccer ball emoji to a friend within the Messenger app on Android and iOS, then tap the icon, and the game can begin. It’s a simple but addictive game, involving tapping the ball while it’s in the air to accrue as many keepie uppies as you can get.

“I think I’ve got a good shot, because this is all about using a phone, and some strong solid thumbs, and I think I’ve got that on him [Neymar],” said Zuckerberg.

However, the Facebook CEO only managed 37, which isn’t a particularly high score. Neymar responded to Zuck’s challenge within hours, saying: “Challenge accepted! I’ll train, and tomorrow I’ll talk to you…,” and he’s expected to post his response later today.

Neymar may be a wizard on the soccer field, scoring an average of more than a goal every two games for both Barcelona and Brazil, but his thumb skills have hitherto been untested on the public stage.

Meanwhile, you can watch Mark Zuckerberg notch up his score of 37 in the video below.