Speaking to journalists before his team’s quarter-final meeting with Croatia, Brazil attacker Vinícius Júnior was joined by an intruder.
A cat entered the press briefing and prowled around the assembled journalists as questions were fired at the 22-year-old Real Madrid man for around 15 minutes. The cat then proceeded to jump up onto the press conference table to sit between Vinícius and Brazil’s press officer.
Vinícius watched as the press officer stroked the cat before the official then manhandled the cat from the stage by picking it up by its fur and throwing it from the podium. The cat has been named “Hexa” by the Brazil squad, meaning “Sixth” in Portuguese in reference to Brazil’s attempts to win a sixth World Cup title in Qatar.
However, such aggressive handling of the animal by the press officer was criticised by some and clearly affected the Madrid player who stopped smiling immediately to stare at his compatriot.
Brazil face Croatia in the quarter-finals after a 4-1 last 16 win over South Korea.
GWFN
