Neal Maupay Claps Back at Paul Scholes’ ‘Idiot’ Taunt with Savage ‘Daughter’s Toes’ Jibe

Neal Maupay Fires Back at Paul Scholes With Savage Toe Jibe

Neal Maupay sparked a fiery feud with Manchester United legend Paul Scholes after the latter criticized the Marseille striker’s theatrics on the pitch. Scholes labeled Maupay an “idiot” during a fan debate on The Overlap, prompting a ruthless social media clapback from the Frenchman referencing a bizarre 2021 incident involving Scholes and his daughter’s toes.

The Controversy Unfolds
Scholes’ criticism came after a fan questioned the difference between Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly mimicking Erling Haaland’s celebration and Maupay copying James Maddison’s darts-themed goal celebration.

Lewis-Skelly imitated Haaland’s meditative pose after scoring in a 5-1 Arsenal win over Manchester City, while Maupay has repeatedly mocked Maddison’s celebration—first during a Brentford-Tottenham match in 2024 and again after joining Marseille. “He’s an idiot, he just takes the p***,” Scholes bluntly remarked.

[Image: Neal Maupay copying Maddison’s darts celebration with Ivan Toney at Brentford]
Caption: Maupay (right) first mimicked Maddison’s celebration during a Brentford-Tottenham match in 2024.

Maupay’s Brutal Response
Maupay, known for his social media trolling, hit back on X (formerly Twitter):

“Surprised Paul Scholes can fit my name in his mouth alongside his daughter’s toes.”

The jab referenced a 2021 video where Scholes playfully nibbled his daughter Alicia’s toenails during an Instagram livestream. The clip, captioned “true love” by Alicia, sparked widespread bewilderment online.

[Image: Scholes with his daughter’s foot in his mouth]
Caption: The 2021 video showed Scholes chewing his daughter’s toes, which Maupay referenced in his taunt.

Scholes’ Viral Moment Resurfaces
The toe-chewing incident, though lighthearted, became a recurring joke among football fans. Alicia, then 20, posted the video to her Instagram followers, later defending it as a family gag. However, Maupay weaponized the moment to mock Scholes’ double standards.

Maupay’s Troublemaking Reputation
The 28-year-old striker has built a reputation for winding up rivals. Most recently, he trolled parent club Everton during his loan spell at Marseille. After the Toffees lost to Nottingham Forest in December 2024, he tweeted:

“Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile.”

[Image: Maupay’s tweet mocking Everton]
Caption: Maupay’s social media dig at Everton went viral in December 2024.

He further rubbed salt in the wound by posting a clip from The Shawshank Redemption upon joining Marseille, comparing his loan move to a prisoner’s escape.

Celebration Wars Continue
The feud highlights football’s ongoing “celebration wars.” While Scholes dismissed Maupay’s antics, Lewis-Skelly’s Haaland imitation was deemed harmless, sparking debates over when mockery crosses the line.

[Image: Lewis-Skelly mimicking Haaland’s pose]
Caption: Arsenal’s Lewis-Skelly copied Haaland’s celebration during a win over Manchester City.

What’s Next?
Maupay has scored four goals and provided four assists in 16 Ligue 1 appearances for Marseille. Whether Scholes responds remains to be seen, but the striker’s penchant for provocation shows no signs of slowing down.

[Image: Maupay playing for Marseille]
Caption: Maupay has revived his form at Marseille while keeping his cheeky persona intact.

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Images suggested with captions based on original article visuals.