Brazilian football star Richarlison accuses Flavio Bolsonaro of seizing his private island
Footballer Richarlison claims Flavio Bolsonaro took possession of his island near Rio, prompting a federal police inquiry ahead of Brazil's runoff election.
Richarlison, a 29-year-old Brazilian striker for Tottenham, posted a viral Instagram video accusing Flavio Bolsonaro of unlawfully seizing his island after a failed sale in 2022. He says the senator, accompanied by businessman-lawyer Willer Tomaz, exploited a flaw in the Brazilian justice system to take control of the land within a day. The footballer has now appealed to the federal police for an investigation, promising to donate any recovered funds to a local hospital.
As the presidential runoff approaches, Lula has also called for an inquiry, framing the case as part of broader attacks on his opponent. Flavio Bolsonaro maintains he has no direct role in the dispute, asserting he is merely a witness, while Tomaz offered to transfer ownership rights if Richarlison can provide proof of purchase.
How this story developed
- Oct 4 Portugal sees alcohol dependence surge while Brazil heads to tightly contested election
- Oct 9 Augusto Cury announced he will vote for Bolsonaro in the runoff.
- Oct 10 Former Minas Gerais governor Romeu Zema and former President Michel Temer publicly endorsed Flavio Bolsonaro.
- Oct 10 President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s campaign says Meta restricted his content on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp as the presidential runoff approaches.
- Oct 13 Senator Flavio Bolsonaro announced he will vote for a constitutional amendment that cuts Brazil’s standard workweek from 44 to 40 hours, reversing his party’s previous opposition.
- Oct 16 Senate ratified the constitutional amendment following Senator Flavio Bolsonaro’s earlier announcement of support.
- Oct 16 A new Datafolha poll released Thursday shows Bolsonaro maintaining a narrow lead over Lula within the margin of error.
- Oct 19 The first televised debate between the two candidates was held a week before the runoff.
- Oct 20 Lula’s closing remarks were interrupted when the moderator announced he had run out of time.
- Oct 20 The court increased the daily penalty on Meta.
- Oct 22 Meta was ordered to demonstrate compliance with equal‑treatment rules within 24 hours.
- Oct 23 Most recent polls place Senator Flávio Bolsonaro ahead of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as Brazil prepares for the October 25 runoff.
- Oct 24 Justice André Mendonça ruled that each candidate may obtain the other’s financial, tax and phone records.
- Oct 25 A Datafolha poll released on October 22 gave Flávio Bolsonaro 47% and Lula 46%, a one‑point margin.
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