Brazil’s national soccer team, complete with superstar striker Neymar, played a friendly match against South Africa in Soweto Wednesday. It was one of their final tune-ups before hosting the 2014 World Cup this summer.
Brazil won 5-0, and immediately after the game a young South African of about eight or nine years old ran onto the pitch. Officials initially tried to herd him away, until Neymar — one of the world’s most popular players — came over and scooped the beaming boy into his arms.
The story gets even better. Neymar posed for photos with the kid, as did some of his Brazilian teammates. Together they hoisted the invader-turned-hero into the air. You can see the entire encounter in the YouTube video above. Photographer Marco Longari also captured the moment between young boy and soccer god:
The month-long 2014 FIFA World Cup starts June 12 in Brazil.
Credit: Mashable.com