PSG star Neymar pays tribute to Kobe Bryant with celebration after NBA legend dies in helicopter crash

Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar paid tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant after scoring in his side’s 2-0 win over Lille on Sunday night.

The Ligue 1 clash took place soon after news broke of the tragic California helicopter crash which killed former LA Lakers star Bryant and four other passengers, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.

Brazilian forward Neymar scored both goals in the game and after his second held up the number 24, in reference to one of the two jersey numbers Bryant wore with the Lakers, the other being the number eight. Both were retired at the end of his playing career in 2016.

Bryant’s death comes in the same week as the NBA held its annual European regular season game in Paris, as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Charlotte Hornets.

The 41-year-old was a big football fan and PSG’s English Twitter account joined the tributes, tweeting: “The club would like to express its deepest condolences to his family and friends, to the Lakers and the NBA family after the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant. RIP, legend.”