A football influencer has died after a three-year battle with cancer.
Naty Potira passed away at the age of 39 on Saturday (26 Sep).
Football legend Neymar posted: “Rest in peace.
READ MORE: Football influencer plunges from 7th floor after posting cryptic final message
“Cheer for us from up there.”
Santos, the club she lived for, called her an eternal fan.
Naty, whose full name was Natalia Potiraporã Martins da Conceição, worked as a flight attendant before building a following of over 465,000 with match reactions and jokes about Santos.
The influencer, who lived in São Paulo, Brazil, discovered she had cervical cancer in routine tests in 2023.
She later said she was clear, but then the disease came back as a metastasis in 2024.
Chemo and radiotherapy cleared tumours in her neck and cervix, but it later spread through her abdomen.
She was admitted to Hospital Leforte in late August and sedated on 20 September.
Her partner, Guilherme Kastner, a Santos TV producer, confirmed the death.
He wrote: “My best friend. The great love of my life has gone to rest.
“I love you forever.”
Santos posted: “It is with great sorrow that Santos FC announces the death of our eternal supporter, Naty Potira.
“Natalia was a flight attendant who always showed her love for the club.
“Thank you, Naty. Thank you for everything you did for the club and for everyone who loved you.”
In May this year, she met Neymar and was given one of his shirts.
She wrote: “I lived a dream!
“Receiving the affection of an idol was an unreal surprise.”
She said she froze and then cried afterwards.
She quoted him: “God bless you. It will be all right. Stay strong.”
After Santos beat Corinthians 1-0 on 30 August, he filmed a dressing-room clip for her.
“I hope you saw it and liked it. This victory is for you,” he said.
While she was sedated he sent another video.
“Hi Naty, just sending a kiss and to say our side is flying.
“Stay with God, we’re together. Stay strong, warrior.”
A prayer chain ran among players and fans on 23 September.
She had been an ambassador for the 2026 São Paulo State Championship and took part in the club’s Pink October cancer drives.
As a girl she wanted to play professionally and had a trial at Santos after starting at Juventus-SP.
A wake is set for Monday at the Torcida Jovem Santos hall in São Paulo, open to the public from 10am.
Cremation is due at 2pm at Vila Alpina, as reported by Need To Know.
