Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro thanked soccer star Neymar for his support on Sunday, three weeks before a runoff presidential election against Lula. “Neymar, thank you. Thank you for your concern, not about my fate, but about your country. I am an ordinary soldier. You are on top“, the head of state announced during an over four-hour long interview with YouTube channel Pilhado.

“Neymar lives abroad (in Paris) and he sees what is happening in the world. He must say to himself: I do not lack anything, but I do not want my loved ones to suffer like the inhabitants of left-wing Latin American countries such as Venezuela, Argentina, Chile and Nicaragua. Unafraid to expose himself, he has a huge following among young first-time voters.“He insisted on this election.

The Paris SG star striker took a stand in favor of the far-right president three days before the first round of the presidential election, smilingly mimicking a campaign jingle in a video on TikTok. The next day, he defended himself from the many criticisms he received on social networks.

“We talk about democracy and many things, but if someone has a different opinion they are attacked by the same people who talk about democracy. will understand“, tweeted the number 10 of the Selecao.

Athletes are part of the Bolsonaro strategy

During this Sunday interview, videos of other athletes supporting Jair Bolsonaro were shown on the screen, such as messages from former Juventus midfielder Felipe Melo, who plays for Fluminense today, or former basketball star Nene Hilario, who played for 17 years. In the NBA, especially the Denver Nuggets.

The head of state took advantage of this river interview to once again call his opponent in the second round, leftist former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a “thief”. “Lula surpassed Al Capone. Al Capone was a pick pocket next to Lula“, he began, referring to the notorious gangster who ruled Chicago’s underworld of crime in the 1920s.

The left-wing candidate, who favors voting for the second round on October 30, did not hesitate to attack his opponent on Sunday: “Bolsonaro lies easily, he never tells the truth” said the former steel worker at a press conference in Belo Horizonte.