Neymar makes public his support for Bolsonaro and receives a barrage of criticism: "The same people who talk about democracy attack me"

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With Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva clearly ahead in the polls for this Sunday's presidential elections in Brazil, President

in his goal of being re-elected: he has the support of Neymar, the most important footballer of the country in a country where football is the most important thing for millions of people.

The Paris Saint Germain player uploaded a video on TikTok in which he dances and gestures on the seat of a bus

.

A very clear message, a continuation of another that had been known in the week, when he greeted the president and his wife, Michelle, and lamented not having been able to be with them on his visit to Santos, the hometown of the player from the Brazilian team.

Neymar's gesture, a reference for many Brazilians,

by those who love him as a player but hate Bolsonaro.

It is

for Neymar to support "the most prejudiced candidate in Brazilian political history, who has already made homophobic, sexist and obviously racist statements," said Casagrande, a popular soccer commentator.

The former Barcelona player was not intimidated by the criticism and reacted this Friday with a tweet full of irony: "They talk about democracy and many things, but when someone has a different opinion they are attacked by the same people who talk about democracy. Imagine" .

"Neymar knows the scope he has

," CNN Brazil analyzed.

"He is the main player in Brazil, it is as if Ronaldo had declared in 1998 his support for Fernando Henrique Cardoso."

Bolsonaro has more support among active players, such as Tottenham striker

, while Lula received the support of retired players like Raí and Juninho Pernambucano, as well as his team, Palmeiras.

There is, however, one big-time retired player who supports Bolsonaro: Romario.

The former Barcelona and Valencia striker is leading the race for election to senator in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

"The president defends the family, and that is very important to me. He is against abortion and the legalization of drugs. He is spontaneous, he wants a Brazil that moves forward," Romario said in an interview with "Veja."

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