Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior has filed an official legal complaint with the electoral court in Rio de Janeiro against the campaign of Douglas Ruas (PL), a candidate for the state government, citing the unauthorized and out-of-context use of his image in political advertisements for the 2026 elections, according to filings reviewed by O Globo.
Legal Action and Court Routing
The legal filing demands the immediate removal of the contested material from television broadcasts and online platforms, alongside a formal request for a right of response. However, the local judge determined that the zone lacked jurisdiction over gubernatorial campaigns for the 2026 election cycle and forwarded the case directly to the Rio de Janeiro Regional Electoral Court (TRE-RJ).
Because of the procedural transfer, the initial judicial review did not rule on the core merits of Vinícius Júnior’s allegations, nor did it immediately order the suspension of the commercials or grant the requested right of response. The case now awaits formal review by the full regional electoral bench.
Details of the Disputed Campaign Material
According to court documents cited by O Globo and CNN Brasil, the contested commercial aired during free political broadcasting time on television starting September 13, followed by a repeat broadcast the next day. The content was simultaneously published across the official social media channels of Douglas Ruas.
Legal representatives for the Brazilian national team forward argued that inserting the player’s likeness into a political narrative generated a misleading impression among voters. The filing explicitly states that the athlete maintains no political affiliations or involvement with candidates participating in the 2026 elections.
Campaign Response and Apology
In response to the legal action, representatives for Douglas Ruas issued a statement acknowledging the dispute and confirming that steps were taken immediately to scrub the advertisement from public view. As reported by major outlets covering the filing, the campaign maintained that the spot never explicitly claimed or insinuated that Vinícius Júnior—or internet personality Virgínia Fonseca, who was also referenced in reporting on the broader dispute—endorsed the candidate.
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“As soon as it learned of the action, the campaign coordination ordered the ad to be removed from all media, including social networks,” the campaign stated, according to O Globo. “Although the piece does not state, nor even insinuate, that Vinícius Júnior and Virgínia Fonseca support Douglas Ruas, the candidate apologizes. There was no intention to cause them any type of embarrassment.”
Next Steps in the TRE-RJ
The Regional Electoral Court of Rio de Janeiro is scheduled to examine the injunction requests in the coming days. The panel will decide whether to mandate a formal right of response and evaluate if the campaign material violated electoral advertising rules regarding unauthorized celebrity associations.
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