Brazil’s ‘shameless’ fans supporting Messi’s Argentina

GBNEWS24DESK//

Jose Arnaldo dos Santos Junior traveled to Qatar to cheer on his beloved Brazilian national team led by Neymar in their ultimately failed attempt to claim a sixth World Cup crown.

But since they were knocked out by Croatia in the quarter-finals, he switched allegiance to Brazil’s arch rivals, Lionel Messi’s Argentina.

“As a football fanatic I think Argentina deserve this title,” said the 38-year-old odontologist upon his return to Sao Paulo.

He cheered on Argentina during their 3-0 semi-final victory over Croatia on Tuesday that saw the South Americans qualify for Sunday’s final.

Dos Santos Junior even wears his light blue and white Argentina jersey “without shame” on the streets of Brazil’s biggest city.

He will put aside eternal debates such as who was better between Brazil’s Pele and Diego Maradona of Argentina to support the Albiceleste against France.

“Argentines are passionate about their teams and their national team, which has the bit between its teeth,” he said. “Any football lover supports such a noble cause.”

Earlier in the World Cup, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said that if his side could not win the tournament “I prefer that a South American team” does, even Brazil.

But while 33 percent of Brazilians identify Argentina as their “second” team, more than 60 percent say they wouldn’t want their neighbor to win the World Cup, according to a poll by the Brazilian data analysis institute.