Rodrigo’s dedication message under RM jersey: what does “pray for RS” mean?

Brazilian attacker Rodrygo paid tribute to his Brazilian compatriots in Champions League game against Bayern Munich.

We’ve long been used to seeing soccer players dedicate goals to one person or another and Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo Goes could be next to do so in the second leg of his team’s Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.

The Brazilian gave the world a glimpse of his dedicatory message after lifting up his shirt in frustration after failing to find the net for Los Blancos in the first half at the Bernabéu.

“Pray for RS” was written on a white t-shirt underneath his Real Madrid kit, a reference to flooding in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, which has had a devastating impact on locals.

Since the end of last week, incessant heavy rain has caused an estimated 150,000 people to be displaced, with around 90 tragically losing their lives and approximately 150 reported missing. Whole towns have been inundated, with roads and bridges destroyed.

While Rodrygo is not the Greater Sao Paulo area rather than Rio Grande do Sul, he has offered his support to his compatriots at an incredibly difficult time (even though his intention was presumably for us to find out after a goal rather than a miss).