World Cup 2026: Neymar makes major donation to support Venezuelan earthquake victims

Caracas: Brazilian soccer star Neymar has reportedly donated $250,000 to assist emergency rescue and humanitarian relief operations in Venezuela, according to the Venezuelan news outlet El Sumario.com.

The report noted that the financial contribution will be utilised to deliver immediate aid to individuals impacted by the crisis, including the distribution of food, potable water, medical resources, and temporary housing.

"My heart goes out to the people of Venezuela," Neymar said as quoted by El Sumario.com, while conveying his desire that the funding would offer resilience and comfort to the affected families.

According to CNN, which cited a data update from Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, at least 1,430 individuals have died in the devastating doublet earthquakes that struck the nation on Wednesday. Rodriguez added that 3,238 people have sustained injuries, while 3,142 families have been displaced after their homes were destroyed.

Emergency crews are continuing their search for survivors as the critical survival window closes, with field operations slowed by a deficit of heavy machinery and continuous seismic activity. Since the twin earthquakes—which registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5—hit Venezuela on Wednesday, the region has been shaken by numerous aftershocks and lower-intensity tremors, compounding the difficulty of active rescue and relief initiatives.

Meanwhile, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti stated that his star forward has achieved major milestones in his injury rehabilitation and is now prepared to handle expanded playing time as the five-time world champions prepare for their FIFA Club World Cup Round of 32 matchup against Japan.

Speaking to journalists Sunday, Ancelotti noted that Neymar's physical conditioning has progressed remarkably over the previous week. The 34-year-old sat out the initial two fixtures of the FIFA World Cup before entering as a late substitute during the final minutes of Brazil's decisive 3-0 victory over Scotland.

"In the last week, his progress has been significant," Ancelotti told reporters Sunday, as quoted by Reuters. "Unfortunately, he could not play longer than 15 minutes before, but he is now doing well enough to play more."

With inputs from ANI