Brazil votes for battle after Bolsonaro video

Brazilian striker Neymar prepares before the friendly football match between Brazil and Tunisia at Parc des Princes in Paris on September 27, 2022

Brasilia (AFP) – Soccer star Neymar swept into Brazil’s presidential campaign after posting a video on social media on Wednesday thanking President Jair Bolsonaro for his visit to the player’s children’s charity.[expander_maker id=”1″ ]

The Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil striker did not enter politics in Bolsonaro’s brief message, four days after Sunday’s vote.

But that has not stopped Bolsonaro’s camp from playing the video of one of the country’s biggest stars as the far-right incumbent seeks a victory from behind over former leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2003-2010), who leads in the polls.

“Hello, President Bolsonaro… I wanted to thank you for your illustrious visit,” Neymar, 30, said on Instagram.

“I would have liked to be with you, but unfortunately I am very far away… I hope you enjoyed your visit to the institute, which is the biggest goal of my life.”

Communications Minister Fabio Faria and Bolsonaro’s son, Senator Flavio, immediately reposted the video on Twitter.

The message came after former army captain Bolsonaro visited the Neymar Jr Institute, a charity the soccer star founded in 2014 and runs educational, cultural and sports programs for 3,000 underprivileged children in the southeastern city of Praia Grande, where Neymar grew up.

Bolsonaro’s supporters adopted the yellow and green jersey of the Brazilian national team as a symbol of support for the president, along with the Brazilian flag.

“Let’s go all yellow and green with the national team jersey to vote for our captain on Sunday!” Faria tweeted.[/expander_maker]