Brazil legend Ronaldo has sent an emotional open letter to compatriot Neymar urging him “to turn the hate” he is receiving “into fuel.”
Ronaldo, who won the World Cup twice with Brazil, said he is shocked by the level of “envy and evil” the Brazil star has had to contend with.
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Neymar is aiming for his first senior trophy with his country but is unlikely to return before the knockout stages of the World Cup after injuring his right ankle in their 2-0 opening win against Serbia.
Ronaldo has now jumped to the Paris Saint-Germain star’s defence after some fans celebrated his injury.
“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,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of Neymar.
“And it is also for this reason, for having reached where he has, for the success he has achieved, that he has to deal with so much envy and evil. 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! …Don’t exalt the cowards and envious. Celebrate the love that comes from most of your country. You will bounce back Neymar! And may all the hate turn into fuel.”
