Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of imprisoned former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro, won the first round with 47 percent of the vote. Veteran leftist Lula received 45.2 percent in Sunday's election.
This means there will be a runoff on October 25.
Lula surprised
Opinion polls had indicated the election would be close. When the votes were counted, Flávio Bolsonaro was pleased.
Brazil wants change. That's how we can interpret what happened today, said Bolsonaro, who represents the Liberal Party (PL), outside his home in Brasília.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called the result "unexpected" during his election-night gathering.
"In the long run, we will bring the Brazilian people with us," promised Lula, who leads the Workers' Party (PT).
None of the other presidential candidates came close to the two. The closest was Augusto Cury of the centrist Avante party, who received 2.9 percent.
The presidential election has been described as a choice of direction for Brazil: Can Lula be elected president for a fourth term and withstand the right-wing winds blowing in many Latin American countries? Or will the Trump-friendly Bolsonaro win?
“Very sad”
Voters seem divided after the first round.
Oscarina de Oliveira, a 62-year-old healthcare worker, had planned to vote for Lula, as she always has.
"But I changed my mind and voted for Bolsonaro. Just to see what happens, to see if anything changes," she said.
Alvaro Senra, a history professor and Lula supporter, said he felt “calm but very sad.”
But I still think Lula can win.
Lorena Zschaber followed the election results at an LGBTQ-friendly bar in downtown Rio de Janeiro.
"I am an LGBTQ woman; I can't imagine anything worse than Flávio Bolsonaro being elected," she said.
What do you think?