NBA great Steve Nash nails Neymar's soccer skills challenge

When Brazilian soccer sensation Neymar posted a video on Instagram this week, challenging a collection of his national teammates as well as former Barcelona star Ronaldinho to a skills challenge, he probably didn’t expect to get a response from a Canadian basketball icon.

While filming a commercial in his role as brand ambassador for fitness and exercise app Nabufit, Neymar took a timeout to post a clip of him displaying some magic against a studio backdrop. He tagged Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho, Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus and Real Madrid’s Marcelo amongst others.

Two-time NBA MVP and soccer fanatic Steve Nash took the challenge personally, posting his own version of the keep up routine, switching between left and right to prove he can play as well with his feet as the hands that earned him eight All-Star nominations in a 19-year career.

Nash’s love for soccer is no secret. A diehard Tottenham Hotspur fan, the former baller is a part owner of MLS franchise Vancouver Whitecaps and Spanish second division club Real Mallorca.

The Steve Nash Foundation hosts the annual Soccer Showdown celebrity soccer match, which just confirmed Dallas Maverick star Dirk Nowitzki as it’s first participant in this year’s edition. Nash and Nowitzki became good friends watching soccer games during their days together in the NBA.

Neymar has spent the last week in Los Angeles, taking in the NBA Finals and appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Brazil’s captain sat courtside with three-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton during Game 2 and greeted Golden State’s Kevin Durant and Draymond Green with signed Barcelona shirts after the Warriors cruised to a second home-court win against Cleveland.

Back in Hollywood, Neymar was found once again with a ball at his feet, attempting something requiring a little less finesse and a little more gusto. After a few missed attempts, he found the net. Over to you Steve Nash.