Neymar Votes in Santos Wearing Club Jersey and Draws Crowds

Neymar Jr. cast his vote in the first round of Brazil’s 2026 elections on Sunday, October 4, arriving at a polling station in Santos wearing a retro Santos FC jersey and drawing crowds near the 5:00 p.m. closing time, according to reports published by Terra.

Voting at the Colégio Jean Piaget in Santos

The 34-year-old forward arrived at the Colégio Jean Piaget in the Aparecida neighborhood of Santos on the coast of São Paulo state alongside close friend Cris Guedes, as detailed in coverage from UOL and Jornal Correio. Sporting the club’s white-and-black colors, the player navigated the final minutes of the electoral window before standard balloting concluded across the country at 5:00 p.m. Brasília time.

Describing his arrival to his social media followers, Neymar remarked in a video that the atmosphere appeared clear when he stepped inside. Vim votar e não tinha ninguém. É ou não é, Crisin? Vim no melhor horário, 16h30, camisa do Peixão. Tamo junto, the player stated, according to UOL.

Crowds and Media Attention at the Polling Station

Despite timing his arrival for late afternoon to minimize disruption, the athlete’s presence quickly triggered local congestion. Security and electoral rules governed the scene, with the Tribunal Superior Eleitoral estimating roughly 158.7 million Brazilians eligible to participate in the national election cycle.

Reporting from Jornal Correio highlighted additional details from the scene, noting that Cris Guedes wore a sticker supporting a local legislative candidate while accompanying the forward. Video footage captured both men flashing hand gestures that local outlets identified as a potential political reference during the final minutes of voting access.

Neymar Recovers from Thigh Injury for Potential Return

Beyond the electoral proceedings, the public appearance arrived while the forward continues his rehabilitation from a muscular injury in his right thigh. Estadão noted that the player has remained sidelined since early September, when Santos faced Palmeiras in the Copa del Pilar — or rather, the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals.

Santos manager Cuca addressed the player’s physical status on Friday, October 2, indicating that a return to competitive action could arrive soon. O Neymar tem grande chance de jogar porque vem treinando e se preparando muito bem. Ainda três, quatro dias e vamos ver a melhor forma, Cuca stated in remarks reported by Estadão, pointing toward a possible appearance against Flamengo.