This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
On June 6, 2020, a report revealed that Neymar, the world's most expensive footballer, had been approved to receive a $120 welfare payment from the Brazilian government.
The payment was meant for low-paid workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic, but Neymar's name, date of birth, and Brazilian ID number were used to register for the stimulus payment.
According to news site UOL, the application in Neymar's name was initially approved and scheduled for payment before being frozen and placed 'under evaluation' due to indications it failed to meet the requirements.
Neymar's estimated earnings this year are $95.5 million, and he holds the record for the most expensive football transfer in history.
As a result, he does not qualify for the welfare payment, which is meant to help Brazilians employed in the informal sector, such as cleaners or cooks, whose jobs and incomes have evaporated with stay-at-home measures to contain the virus.
