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IT’S OFFICIAL: the best Brazilian soccer player in the world, and one of the top stars of world soccer in the last decade, has endorsed for President Jair Bolsonaro ahead of Brazilian the country’s presidential elections this weekend.
The video confirming the Paris Saint Germain’s support for the Brazilian president was shared by Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, where the soccer star can be seen dancing to the conservative leader’s official campaign song and inviting people to vote for the president’s list 22.
Neymar’s support comes 24 hours after Bolsonaro visited the Neymar JR. Institute in the city of Santos, something that was very well received by the soccer player, who sent an emotional message to the president: “I am very happy that you are there. Very happy for everybody. Just sending a hug to everyone. Thank you always for the love… You know you are a source of pride for me. Send you a hug.”
Bolsonaro took advantage of his visit to the institute run by Neymar to thank the soccer player for his social and sporting work and wish him success in the upcoming World Cup to be played in Qatar; a competition where Brazil is emerging as one of the main favorites to win the title.
“Our Neymar, our crack of the national team, one of the best players in the world, is a source of pride for all of us. The whole world is going to be rooting for him and supporting our national team in the World Cup in November,” Bolsonaro said. “I’m sure everyone will be in green and yellow, the colors of our Brazilian flag, the most beautiful flag in the world.”
Neymar is not the first Brazilian soccer star to publicly come out in support of Bolsonaro. English Tottenham striker Lucas Moura also said in an interview that, as a person who believes in Christian and conservative values, the Brazilian president was the candidate who best represented him at the polls.
In addition, Moura also strongly opposed communist ideas and criticized former president and Bolsonaro’s rival, Lula da Silva, for defending that ideology, which he defined as an “aberration”.
Will Neymar’s endorsement benefit Bolsonaro?
The PSG star expresses his support for Jair Bolsonaro just when he is going through a great moment of form before the Qatar 2022 World Cup. In fact, Brazil’s No. 10 comes from leading his national team in a pair of friendlies against Tunisia and Ghana that were easily outplayed by the Brazilians 5-1 and 3-0 respectively.
Neymar has also signed a fantastic start to the season with PSG in France, as the offensive axis of the team alongside his friend, Lionel Messi, and taking advantage of the physical display and scoring ability of Frenchman Mbappé to supply him with passes to goal. The Parisians have substantially improved their image compared to last season, where their collective game and results left many doubts.
Therefore, Neymar’s public support for Bolsonaro, in a country that breathes soccer like Brazil, in a World Cup year and context, can be a major political-electoral blow ahead of Sunday’s elections. This is not minor news.
Today, there is no sports star and international figure in Brazil with more impact than Neymar. He is both an idol in his country and around the world.
Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón is a journalist at El American specializing in the areas of American politics and media analysis // Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón es periodista de El American especializado en las áreas de política americana y análisis de medios de comunicación.
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