Brazilian legend Ronaldo has advised Neymar to put his recovery from his World Cup ankle injury ahead of the “envy and animosity” of those who have celebrated it.
Even among Selecao supporters, reactions to Neymar’s exclusion from Brazil’s match against Switzerland and likely the following match against Cameroon have been varied.
Some have turned against Neymar because of his support for Jair Bolsonaro, the 30-year-old PSG striker who lost the presidential race in Brazil to Lula last month.
Despite the fact that Neymar seems to be Brazil’s most likely motivator in Qatar 2022, when the team is vying for a sixth World Cup victory, this is the case.
With his eight goals at the 2002 finals, including two in the final against Germany, Ronaldo was the highlight of the team that won the sixth of five trophy victories.
He described Neymar as “awesome” in an open letter on Instagram, posted on Sunday.
Ronaldo added: “I am sure that most Brazilians, like me, admire and love you. Your talent, by the way, has taken you so far, so high, that there is love and admiration for you in every corner of the world.
“And it is also for this reason, for having reached where you have, for the success you have achieved, that you have to deal with so much envy and malice.
“On a level of celebrating the injury of a star like you, with a story like yours. How far have we come? What world is this? What message are we passing on to our young people? There will always be people rooting against you, but it is sad to see society on a path of trivialising intolerance, of normalising hate speech.
“It is against this verbal violence with destructive power that I write to you today: come back stronger! Smarter! Hungry for goals! The good you do on and off the field is much greater than envy towards you.
“Don’t forget for a second the journey that made you a world football idol. Brazil loves you! The real fans – the ones who are in favour – need your goals, dribbles, boldness and joy! Celebrate the love that comes from most of your country. You will bounce back! And may all the hate turn into fuel.”
Neymar hobbled off in the 80th minute of Brazil’s 2-0 win against Serbia on Thursday, with medical staff announcing he sustained a lateral ligament injury to his right ankle.
The former Barcelona forward was fouled nine times in the Serbia game, the most suffered by any player in a single game so far at the World Cup.