Neymar, a prominent figure for Brazil both in football and as a public personality, attracted attention when he appeared to endorse a political candidate ahead of Brazil’s upcoming elections. The star of the national team and a longtime player for Paris Saint-Germain shared a video on his official TikTok account that appeared to support Jair Bolsonaro. The clip, which also circulated on Bolsonaro’s social channels, features a sung message urging votes for the candidate. Although Neymar’s voice is not audible in the video, the accompanying lyrics clearly reference voting and include the number 22, the identifier assigned to Bolsonaro in Brazilian ballots.
The post, published on a platform with millions of followers, coincided with Bolsonaro’s campaign efforts as he seeks re-election in a race that has Lula da Silva as the leading challenger in many polls. Bolsonaro responded to the coverage with a message celebrating what he framed as political momentum, expressing gratitude for Neymar and reaffirming a nationalist tone in his appeal.
@Little Neymar
22
♬ we are original – Enejota
Earlier in the week, Bolsonaro visited the Neymar Institute, a facility associated with the star and located in the city of Santos. The visit highlighted the close ties between the footballer and the organization known for supporting youth and sports initiatives in the region.
Historically, Neymar is not the only public figure to engage with Bolsonaro’s campaign. In 2018, other prominent football players lent their voices to political conversations in Brazil, and a similar pattern of athlete involvement continued into later years as the election cycle progressed. The broader political landscape in Brazil features a contest between Bolsonaro and Lula da Silva, with opinion polls often showing Lula at an advantage among many voters. The election, like many in the country, involves a complex mix of issues including economy, public health, and social policies, all of which shape how supporters and opponents frame their messages in the public sphere.