Neymar sues journalist over personal life impact

Brazilian star Neymar has taken legal action against a local reporter, accusing him of damaging his performance by exposing private matters, igniting significant controversy about his professional path.

Neymar has taken a firm stance by suing journalist Rodolfo Gomes, asserting that the information he shared is fabricated, harms his reputation, and negatively impacts his career.

According to the Daily Mailreport, Neymar’s agency NR Sports issued a statement emphasizing that Gomes’ comments are “irresponsible, defamatory, and false.” The agency also confirmed that civil and criminal legal proceedings are underway to hold the journalist accountable.

Previously, in a video posted on the Futebotecochannel, Gomes accused Neymar of “being addicted to whisky mixed with energy drinks, smoking shisha, and frequently staying up until 5 a.m.”. He also claimed that due to Neymar’s unhealthy habits, Santos’ coach had to delay training sessions to accommodate him and predicted that the player would miss the rest of the year. These statements quickly stirred public attention and were echoed by some Brazilian media outlets despite lacking official confirmation.

In response to these allegations, Neymar replied with a mix of seriousness and sarcasm. Besides the legal action taken by his agency, the 33-year-old forward posted a photo of a Red Bull can with the caption “ADDICTED to Red Bull. This flavor is really good,” mocking the source of the claims directly.

Neymar’s performance since returning to Santos has been underwhelming due to persistent injuries. After leaving PSG and an unsuccessful short stint in Saudi Arabia, he hoped to regain his form at home and secure a spot on Brazil’s national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup. However, current circumstances put this goal in doubt.

Nevertheless, Neymar continues to receive support from Brazilian football legends. Former star Ronaldo “Fenômeno” stated: “Neymar is a unique player; there’s no one like him on the Brazil team. Recovering from injury takes time, and it’s unfair to rush to judge him as careless.”

While Neymar is sidelined, Santos struggles in Serie A with only 7 wins in 23 matches, sitting 15th on the table. Both Neymar’s future at the club and his chances for the 2026 World Cup remain uncertain.