Brazil's national soccer team, complete with superstar striker Neymar, played a friendly match (read: exhibition game) 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.
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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:

Image: Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images
The month-long 2014 FIFA World Cup starts June 12 in Brazil.