Brazil’s far-right president Jair Bolsonaro was booed on Sunday while attending the final of the Copa America football tournament in Rio de Janeiro.

Mr Bolsonaro, accompanied by several cabinet ministers, received mostly jeers from the 70,000 fans at Maracana Stadium after Brazil defeated Peru to win their ninth title.

The hostile response came at the end of a tournament in which the controversial leader has been accused of using the competition for political gain.

Since taking office in January, Mr Bolsonaro's approval ratings have fallen from nearly 50 per cent to 32 per cent, according to Ibope polling, amid Brazil’s continuing economic problems and political infighting.

Mr Bolsonaro said on Friday he would attend the match as a test of his popularity.

Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Show all 20 1 /20 Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Brazil's new President Jair Bolsonaro waves as he drives past before his swear-in ceremony Reuters Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Supporters wait in front of the Planalto Palace, where he will take office EPA Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Jair Bolsonaro gestures at the Congress before he is sworn AFP/Getty Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Supporters take pictures as Brazil's new President Jair Bolsonaro drives past Reuters Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Flanked by first lady Michelle Bolsonaro, Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro waves to the crowd, as he rides in an open car after his swearing-in ceremony AP Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Jair Bolsonaro reacts as he drives past Reuters Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Brazil's new President Jair Bolsonaro reacts as he drives past before his swear-in ceremony, in Brasilia, Brazil January 1, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes RICARDO MORAES Reuters Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration The National Congress before Brazil's President-elect Jair Bolsonaro is sworn in AFP/Getty Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Jair Bolsonaro gestures at the Congress AFP/Getty Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Brazil's new President Jair Bolsonaro waves as he drives past before his swear-in ceremony, in Brasilia, Brazil January 1, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes RICARDO MORAES Reuters Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Supporters of Brazil's President Elect Jair Bolsonaro are cooled down with a water hose by firefighters, prior Bolsonaro's inauguration, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday Jan. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) Silvia Izquierdo AP Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration The presidential convoy, led by Brazil's President-elect Jair Bolsonaro (L) and his wife Michelle Bolsonaro in a Rolls Royce, heads to the National Congress for his swearing-in ceremony, in Brasilia on January 1, 2019. - Bolsonaro takes office with promises to radically change the path taken by Latin America's biggest country by trashing decades of centre-left policies. (Photo by Carl DE SOUZA / AFP)CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images CARL DE SOUZA AFP/Getty Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration epa07257163 Sympathizers of Brazilian President-elect, Jair Bolsonaro, walk past a giant figure of the future president before the beginning of the inauguration ceremony, in Brasilia, Brazil, 01 January 2019. A far-right president leads the biggest Latin America democracy for first time since the end of military rule (1964-1985). Bolsonaro defeated candidate Fernando Haddad in the runoff, held in October 2018, receiving 55 percent of the vote. EPA/Fernando Bizerra Jr Fernando Bizerra Jr EPA Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Brazil's President-elect Jair Bolsonaro (L) gestures next to his wife Michelle Bolsonaro as the presidential convoy heads to the National Congress for his swearing-in ceremony, in Brasilia on January 1, 2019. - Bolsonaro takes office with promises to radically change the path taken by Latin America's biggest country by trashing decades of centre-left policies. (Photo by Carl DE SOUZA / AFP)CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images CARL DE SOUZA AFP/Getty Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Firefighters spray water at supporters of Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro to cool them down, while they gather to wait for his inauguration ceremony at "Tres Poderes" square in front of the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, on January 01, 2019. - Brazil entered a new chapter in its history on Tuesday, embracing a far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, whose determination to break with decades of centrist rule has raised both hopes and fears. (Photo by EVARISTO SA / AFP)EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images EVARISTO SA AFP/Getty Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Supporters take pictures as Brazil's new President Jair Bolsonaro drives past before his swear-in ceremony, in Brasilia, Brazil January 1, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes RICARDO MORAES Reuters Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Brazil's new President Jair Bolsonaro and his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, arrive at Brazil's National Congress, in Brasilia, Brazil January 1, 2019. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares PILAR OLIVARES Reuters Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Supporters of Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, gather at the "Tres Poderes" square in front of the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, before his inauguration ceremony on January 01, 2019. - Brazil entered a new chapter in its history on Tuesday, embracing a far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, whose determination to break with decades of centrist rule has raised both hopes and fears. (Photo by EVARISTO SA / AFP)EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images EVARISTO SA AFP/Getty Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Supporters of Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, gather to wait for his inauguration ceremony at "Tres Poderes" square in front of the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, on January 01, 2019. - Brazil entered a new chapter in its history on Tuesday, embracing a far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, whose determination to break with decades of centrist rule has raised both hopes and fears. (Photo by EVARISTO SA / AFP)EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images EVARISTO SA AFP/Getty Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right leader inauguration Jair Bolsonaro addresses Congress, during his swearing-in ceremony as Brazil's new president, in Brasilia on January 1, 2019. - Bolsonaro takes office with promises to radically change the path taken by Latin America's biggest country by trashing decades of centre-left policies. 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Although the response was a clear sign of disapproval with the current president, it is not unusual for politicians to be booed at the Maracana, where political dissent is common.

Brazil’s past three presidents – Michel Temer, Dilma Rousseff and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva - have all been booed at major sporting events while in office.

After the jeers, Mr Bolsonaro joined players on the pitch to pose with the trophy, with some, such as Fagner and Lucas Paqueta, cheering him on.

Others appeared to keep their distance from the president and the team’s coach, Tite, avoided being hugged.

Mr Bolsonaro was accused of making a “clear political demonstration” during his appearance at Brazil’s semifinal match with Argentina on Tuesday.

Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association, wrote to the South American football association objecting to Mr Bolsonaro's “lap of honour” around the stadium at halftime.

Under Fifa rules, political demonstrations are prohibited at sporting events.

Mr Bolsonaro was also booed during the semifinal match but brushed off the jeers, claiming they were for Argentina, not him.

Dani Alves, Brazil’s captain, has addressed the controversy around the president’s appearances at the Copa America and said it did not bother him to receive the trophy from Mr Bolsonaro.

"He's our president. We must respect him,” he said.

“As Brazilian citizens, we [the players], like him, represent a nation. Respect in a society is the first step to be taken to build a truly great country.”