- A Brazilian superstar is dragging a journalist to court after sensational accusations about his private life
- The Santos forward has fired back in his own playful way on social media, leaving fans debating whether he was mocking the claims or not
- Fresh injury woes have once again put Neymar’s career and World Cup 2026 ambitions under serious doubt
Neymar has reportedly launched legal proceedings against a Brazilian journalist after being accused of living an unhealthy and unprofessional lifestyle.
The Santos and Brazil forward, 33, was targeted by Rodolfo Gomes, who alleged on his YouTube channel Futeboteco that Neymar was “addicted to whisky mixed with energy drinks, smokes shisha, and regularly stays up until dawn playing video games.”
Source: Getty Images
Gomes also suggested Neymar’s supposed habits were affecting team dynamics, with training sessions allegedly adjusted to suit him.
According to the journalist, new Santos head coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda is considering shifting training to earlier hours as a way of “indirectly exposing” the issue. He further claimed Neymar would not play again this year due to injury setbacks, as cited by Daily Mail Sport.
Neymar sues journalist Rodolfo Gomes
The forward’s management company, NR Sports, wasted no time firing back. In a statement, they labeled the remarks as “reckless, defamatory, slanderous, and completely false,” adding that civil and criminal action is already underway to hold those responsible accountable.
Meanwhile, Neymar himself responded in a typically cheeky fashion on Instagram. He shared a photo of an energy drink can with the caption:
“ADDICTED to Red Bull. That one’s great”—a playful jab at the accusations.
Neymar’s injury struggles
The former Barcelona star is currently sidelined with a grade-two quadriceps tear sustained during a Santos training session on September 18. His recovery is expected to last until at least November.
This setback adds to a long list of injuries that have plagued his career: a broken foot and torn ankle ligaments at PSG, an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture at Al-Hilal, and now multiple muscle injuries since returning to Santos.
Neymar’s return to the Brazilian league was met with lots of excitement but things have been rough for the talented dribbler. In August, Santos ultras confronted Neymar and the squad outside the training ground following a humiliating 6-0 defeat.
The angry supporters accused the team of underperforming, with Neymar reportedly reduced to tears, with Neymar admitting he felt ashamed and very disappointed with the team’s performance.
Source: Getty Images
He also acknowledged that the supporters had every right to protest provided it remained non-violent, adding that his tears came from anger and frustration at a situation he found unacceptable.
As the country’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 games, Neymar has not featured for Brazil since tearing knee ligaments against Uruguay in October 2023, with Carlo Ancelotti warning the Santos icon would need to be 100% fit to make his squad for the World Cup 2026.
Carlo Ancelotti sends strong signal to Neymar
Earlier, YEN.com.gh highlighted Carlo Ancelotti’s stance that Neymar must be fully fit to earn a place in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad.
The Santos forward has struggled to regain his top form since leaving Al-Hilal and returning to his boyhood club.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Source: Yen.com.gh
