Superstar Neymar was mistakenly approved to receive a $120 (Dh440) welfare payment meant for low-paid Brazilian workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report.
In an apparent case of identity theft, the Paris Saint-Germain star's name, date of birth and Brazilian ID number were used to register for the payment from the federal government, news site UOL reported.
The emergency payments are meant to help Brazilians employed in the informal sector whose jobs and incomes have vanished with stay-at-home measures to contain the virus.
Neymar's estimated earnings at PSG this year were $95.5m, after his record transfer of € 222m (Dh915m).
According to UOL, the application in his name "was initially approved and scheduled for payment... before being frozen and placed 'under evaluation' due to indications it failed to meet the requirements".
UOL reported that Neymar's staff said the Brazilian "obviously never applied for this benefit, and does not know who would have done so."
Brazil is one of the countries hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. It has the third-highest death toll globally, at more than 34,000, behind only the US and Britain.
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Neymar and other stars and their bling
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Cristiano Ronaldo wore diamonds worth Dh3 million durong the Dubai International Sports Conference in December 2019. EPA -
Cristiano Ronaldo wore a super expensive Rolex diamond-studded GMT-Master Ice during the Dubai International Sports Conference in December 2019. It cost about $485,000 (Dh1.8 million) with nearly 30 carats diamonds. Add to it a diamond band and a canary diamond ring on his middle finger, and the cost of the items on Ronaldo's hands were estimated at Dh3 million. EPA -
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PSG's Brazilian phenom Neymar with Kylian Mbappe, and an impressive set of chains. Instagram / @neymarjr. -
Manchester United's Paul Pogba is never short on style or bling. Instagram / @paulpogba -
NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal is giant when it comes to splashing cash on things he loves. Like this insane chain around his neck. Shutterstock -
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NFL star Odell Beckham Jr oozes style. He shows off his impressive collection at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Getty -
Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has a nose and ear piercing, plus a whole bunch of bling on his hands. Instagram / @lewishamilton. -
Allrounder Hardik Pandya is the undisputed king of bling in Indian cricket. Instagram / @hardikpandya93 -
Football's enfant terrible Mario Balotelli never fails to shine. Instagram / @mb459
