The senator and pre-candidate for the Presidency, Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), used social media this Friday (19) to refute a statement by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) about Neymar Jr. The reaction transformed a speech made during an event in Belo Horizonte into another chapter in the political dispute between the government and the opposition.
The demonstration took place just hours after Lula commented on the striker’s absence from the Brazilian team during the 2026 World Cup. In conversation with a child, the president asked who would be the main name in Brazilian football today. Upon hearing the answer “Neymar”, he joked about the player not being on the field.
“Neymar isn’t even playing. I saw something yesterday: “, said Lula during the event.
The statement was enough to provoke a public response from Flávio Bolsonaro. In a video released on his profiles, the senator classified the president’s speech as another “own goal” and came to the athlete’s defense.
“You may or may not like Neymar as a player. For me, he is a great,” he said.
The parliamentarian took advantage of the publication to expand his criticism of the federal government. Without limiting himself to the sporting theme, he associated Lula’s speech with questions about international travel and expenses incurred by the Presidency of the Republic.
“It’s difficult to defend Lula, in his mandate in airplane mode, always traveling, staying in luxury hotels. Stay at home, Lula, and stop wasting Brazilians’ money,” he declared.
