{
  "id": 16228543,
  "title": "Neymar backs Flavio Bolsonaro in Brazil election",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/neymar-backs-flavio-bolsonaro-in-brazil-election-16228543",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-23T21:24:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/neymar-backs-flavio-bolsonaro-in-brazil-election/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Brazilian soccer prodigy Neymar recently endorsed right-wing senator Flavio Bolsonaro ahead of the country's crucial runoff election on Sunday, pitted against incumbent leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The world's top scorer for Brazil's national team, Neymar previously backed Flavio's father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, citing shared values. He did not comment on this year's campaign but appeared in an Instagram video alongside pro-Bolsonaro lawmaker Nikolas Ferreira. Ferreira cleverly turned a ball into the number 22, corresponding to Flavio's ballot number. \"It's not about politics, it's just football here,\" Ferreira quipped, a prominent voice on the Brazilian right in Congress. Neymar retired from international football after Brazil's World Cup loss to Norway in July, now playing for Brazilian club Santos. Recent polls indicate a tight race between Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro as Sunday's vote draws near.",
  "summary": "Brazilian football star Neymar has thrown his support behind right-wing senator Flavio Bolsonaro ahead of a tight runoff election against Luiz Inacio Lula Read More: https://punchng.com/neymar-backs-flavio-bolsonaro-in-brazil-election/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Lula hopes older voters can help power him to victory against Flavio Bolsonaro",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/lula-hopes-older-voters-can-help-power-him-to-victory-against-flavio",
        "published": "2026-10-22T09:20:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Spooked by Bolsonaro, Brazil’s left takes to social media and the streets pushing for Lula win",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/spooked-by-bolsonaro-brazils-left-takes-to-social-media-and-the",
        "published": "2026-10-22T17:33:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Mongabay",
        "title": "Environmental officials fear new wave of harassment if Flavio Bolsonaro wins in Brazil",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/environmental-officials-fear-new-wave-of-harassment-if-flavio",
        "published": "2026-10-23T19:06:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}