Neymar backs Bolsonaro in Brazil vote
PSG's Brazilian football star Neymar publicly shows his support for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro days before the country's presidential election.
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Brazilian football superstar Neymar (Reuters)
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro got a celebrity endorsement Thursday for his re-election bid from football superstar Neymar, who posted a video on TikTok of himself dancing to a pro-Bolsonaro campaign song.
The Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil striker flashed the number 22 -- Bolsonaro's candidate number -- with his fingers as he danced to the song, three days from the far-right incumbent's election showdown against leftist ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
"Vote, vote, and press 'confirm' for 22, that's Bolsonaro," goes the song, in a reference to Brazil's electronic voting machines -- which the President alleges are plagued by fraud.
Neymar grava vídeo com música em apoio ao presidente Jair Bolsonaro:
— Planeta do Futebol 🌎 (@futebol_info) September 29, 2022
“Vota, vota e confirma: 22, é Bolsonaro!”
🎥 Reprodução pic.twitter.com/ThWMBJh4ZI
Bolsonaro wasted no time retweeting Neymar's video.
Neymar, 30, had previously stayed out of the fray for Sunday's polarizing election, in which Lula leads in opinion polls.
But he sent a video message to Bolsonaro Wednesday after the president visited the footballer's charitable children's foundation.
- Reeleição 🤝 Hexa.
— Jair M. Bolsonaro 2️⃣2️⃣ (@jairbolsonaro) September 29, 2022
- Valeu, @neymarjr !
Brasil acima de tudo!
Deus acima de todos!
2️⃣2️⃣ ✅ ⚽🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/RCdW6tEEN3
"Hello, President Bolsonaro... I wanted to thank you for your illustrious visit," he said on Instagram after Bolsonaro visited the Neymar Jr. Institute, a non-profit organization that the football star founded in 2014.
It runs educational, cultural, and sports programs for 3,000 underprivileged children.
It is noteworthy that Bolsonaro backers have adopted the yellow-and-green jersey of Brazil's national team as a symbol of support for the president, along with the Brazilian flag.
- Gratificante passagem, hoje, pelo @InstitutoNJr . O respeito à família e aos professores, junto da disciplina do esporte, garante um futuro honesto. Nosso maior patrimônio são nossos filhos e precisamos preservá-lo, se preciso for, com nossa própria vida. Valeu, @neymarjr 🇧🇷👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/gW2MjBLKUn
— Jair M. Bolsonaro 2️⃣2️⃣ (@jairbolsonaro) September 29, 2022
