Neymar Jr’s return to Santos FC has created both a marketing and soccer revolution in Brazil. His arrival has significantly increased viewership and interest in the Brazilian league. However, Neymar has also used his influence to promote an important campaign against artificial turf in Brazil.

Neymar, Memphis Depay and Thiago Silva are among the leading Brazilian footballers protesting against using artificial turf for league matches instead of natural grass.

Neymar Jr.’s highly-anticipated return to Brazil has already wrapped the 32-year-old into controversy, with the former Paris Saint-Germain attacker leading the charge among Brazilian Série A players opposing the use of artificial turf for league matches, demanding natural grass instead.

Brazilian top flight club Palmeiras say there is no scientific basis for claims made by Neymar, Thiago Silva, and Memphis Depay, who were among the players that launched a campaign against synthetic grass pitches in Brazil.