The recent Ballon d’Or achievement of Lionel Messi has made him the talk of the town. While fans continue to hail the Argentinian superstar for his record-eighth win, it also garnered him unexpected praise from his rival country’s president. But this tribute seems to have ignited controversy, as a political rival has given a spicy response to Brazil’s president by hailing none other than Neymar Jr.

Meanwhile, the road to recovery continues for Neymar after he suffered a season-ending injury a few weeks ago.

A political rival backs Neymar after Brazil’s President heaped praise on Lionel Messi

Earlier, Brazilian President Lula da Silva attracted attention by praising Lionel Messi as a true role model. He subtly took an indirect hit on the injured Neymar while expressing concerns about the talent in his own country. He said, “A man who’s 36 years old. He was World Champion and this year won the Ballon d’Or. He should be an inspiration for kids who are on TV and then disappear. How many years since Brazil has had a real idol like him? ”

While his comments continue to stir debates among netizens, Flavio Bolsonaro, a political opponent of Mr. Lula, has now taken an indirect hit at him by heaping praise on Neymar. Bolsonaro went to X and wrote, “Brazil is full of couch specialists who don’t understand anything about football. There are people out there talking about being an example for the country, but they are not an example even for cachaceiros. Crack is crack! And envious is envious!”

He continued, “Speaking of a star and a great Brazilian idol, I remembered this goal from @neymarjr in the 14/15 Champions League final when Barcelona won over Juventus (3-1). Great goal!” Below the message, he also added a small clip of Neymar’s final UCL goal.

Indeed, it is quite an interesting take from a member of the Federal Senate of Brazil. Certainly, this will be music to the ears of Neymar. After all, the player deserves such support, as he is already having a tough time recuperating from his injury. Speaking of which, the player recently penned a heartfelt message following his successful injury.

READ MORE: “A Goal That I Always Remember”: Lionel Messi Reignites Real Madrid Rivalry After Revealing His Favorite Goal in 19 Years

Neymar pens heartwarming message after a successful surgery

After suffering an injury in the World Cup qualifiers, Neymar was scheduled to undergo surgery. Now that the surgery is complete, the striker recently gave a major update to his fans. The Al Hilal star posted an Instagram story and wrote, “Everything went well. Thanks for the messages and now I’m concentrating on my recovery.” Certainly, this message is a significant boost for Fernando Diniz, who can now rely on the soccer star for a swift comeback to the field.

Notably, the medical team of the Brazilian national team has shown great confidence in Neymar’s surgery and is optimistic about his potential return for the upcoming Copa America. Additionally, Al Hilal also demonstrated their steadfast dedication to their star’s recovery. The Riyadh-based club dispatched their own medical director, Juan Duque, who personally supervised the surgical process to evaluate the specific damage to Neymar’s cartilage and knee. Be that as it may, fans will be happy to hear this positive update.

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