Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar Jr. has condemned criticism from the left over his support for President Jair Bolsonaro ahead of Sunday’s elections in Brazil.
He said that the same people who “talk about democracy” are the ones who attack anyone “who has a different opinion.”
Last Thursday, the Paris Saint-Germain forward uploaded a video on TikTok in which he dances to a song supporting the current conservative president.
Agora o hexa vem!
Seguraaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
@neymarjr #BolsonaroNoPrimeiroTurno pic.twitter.com/7ijSiF5IXG— Flavio Bolsonaro (@FlavioBolsonaro) September 29, 2022
“Vote, vote and confirm, 22 is Bolsonaro,” the lyrics read, referring to the number assigned to the current Brazilian president as a candidate in the electronic ballot box.
Former players such as Ronaldinho and Rivaldo have expressed support for Bolsonaro in the past.
And Romario said in a recent interview that he “defends Bolsonaro” because “he defends the family, and that’s very important to me.”
“He is against abortion and the legalization of drugs, which is very much in line with my worldview. He is spontaneous, he has problems and weaknesses like all of us, but he wants a Brazil that is moving forward,” he added.
Other footballers also support the president.
Agora Felipe Melo também declara o voto em Bolsonaro!
A família toda é 22!!!#BolsonaroNoPrimeiroTurno pic.twitter.com/8vNy6BARNj— Flavio Bolsonaro (@FlavioBolsonaro) September 29, 2022
This is the case of Lucas Moura, who said in the podcast Cara a Tapa that he was a “right-wing conservative” and that Bolsonaro was closest to what he believed in, or Felipe Melo, who published a video with his family in which he recalled that.
“Bolsonaro stands for God, country, family, and freedom (…). On Sunday, vote 22,” he concluded.