Chaotic state of football in Brazil epitomises a nation where greed has conquered glory | Jonathan Liew

Jonathan Liew describes Brazil’s football politics as a mirror of a divided country heading to elections marked by misinformation and distrust. He opens with a dispute between Richarlison and Flávio Bolsonaro over an island allegedly bought and then annexed, noting lawyers, competing claims, and denials. Liew frames the broader campaign as surreal, with politics increasingly treated as entertainment, quoting Renan Santos on how public policy is replaced by viral content. He links Jair Bolsonaro’s campaign to the national team’s yellow shirt, worn and politicized by the Bolsonaros and supported by football figures including Neymar, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva and Lucas Moura. He also notes the role of evangelical and neo-Pentecostal influence, while the article cuts off mid-discussion.