Paris St Germain talisman Neymar is among the Brazilian stars and coaches who have joined forces with the country's football federation (CBF) to donate almost a million U.S. dollars to families facing economic hardship due the new COVID-19 pandemic.
The group of 57 players and staff, also including former Barcelona right back Daniel Alves, donated 2.5 million reais (458,026 U.S. dollars) while the CBF met their contribution, according to the organization.
"In difficult times like these lots of families need help, our help," Neymar said in a video posted on the CBF website.
The money will go to three organizations working in Brazil's densely-populated favelas and is enough to provide food and sanitary products for 32,000 families for two months, CBF president Rogerio Caboclo said.
Brazil coach Tite and his players encouraged fans to donate and athletes from other sports to participate in the campaign.
The CBF said distribution of the money raised would be overseen by accountants EY, who are giving their time for free.
The initiative comes a week after a series of high-profile former players, including Dunga, Zico and Paulo Roberto Falcao, raised millions through their own campaigns.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid's Wales attacker Gareth Bale said on Wednesday that he had donated 500,000 pounds (616,000 U.S. dollars) to the hospital where he was born to help in the fight against the coronavirus crisis.
According to the Marca, the 30-year-old star will follow that up with a further 500,000 euro (540,000 U.S. dollars) for the health service in Madrid, where he and his family have been on lockdown since 14 March.
"I just wanted to make this video to thank everybody in the NHS for all their hard work and sacrifice during this COVID-19 crisis," Bale said in a message released by the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
"The University Hospital in Wales holds a special place in my heart. It is where I was born and it's provided great support to my friends, my family and the wider community. So me and my family would like to show our support. Keep up the good work. You're doing an amazing job and thank you very much," he added.
As of Wednesday 624 people had died from the coronavirus in Wales with more than 8,000 cases recorded.
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