Neymar Jr. is the most talked-about athlete in Brazil in 2020

Neymar Jr.’s influence beyond the soccer field once again drew attention in 2020. In the digital world, the star player was the most-talked-about athlete among Brazilians on Twitter.

The ranking of the most talked-about names and topics between January and November of this year was released by the platform itself on Tuesday (8). In previous years, Neymar Jr. had also ranked among the most-mentioned figures in the sports world and in Brazil. For example, he was the most-mentioned male athlete on Twitter worldwide in 2019.

In 2020, the star player’s string of outstanding performances for PSG—especially in the Champions League—generated enormous attention and engagement on social media. Neymar Jr. led the team to its first Champions League final in 50 years, also bringing a sense of euphoria to fans and supporters in a year marked by the coronavirus pandemic.

During the competition, fans launched a spontaneous “movement” on social media calling for the striker to sport the traditional mohawk. The hashtags #NEYDAY, #NEYDEMOICANONACHAMPIONS, and #OPAITAON—a reference to a post by the star player—went viral on the internet on days when Paris Saint-Germain played.

It is expected that in the coming days, the platform will release new global information on the topics that were highlighted this year.

Ranking – Most-Talked-About Athletes in Brazil:

Neymar Jr.

Gabriel Barbosa

Cristiano Ronaldo

Everton Ribeiro

Messi

Arrascaeta

LeBron James

Bruno Henrique

Robinho

Coutinho