Neymar’s father has spoken out to shut down criticism aimed at his son’s lifestyle, especially the perception that Neymar’s love for poker and parties has affected his football career.
The Brazilian star has been heavily scrutinized for his off-field antics, but Neymar Sr isn’t having it. In a recent interview with L’Équipe, he defended his son’s choices and set the record straight.
“We have to stop believing that it’s Carnival every night,” Neymar Sr said. “On the field, he’s professional. Off it, it’s his life. He goes out when it’s vacation or when he’s off. The injuries didn’t happen because he went out with girls. Do you think he injured his cruciate ligaments because he played poker?”
Neymar Sr’s comments come after years of media and fan speculation about Neymar’s lifestyle affecting his performance. Despite his party-boy image, Neymar’s father insists that his injuries were purely football-related and not caused by how he spends his downtime.
The former Barcelona and PSG forward, who became the most expensive player in the world in 2017 with a £200 million move to the French capital, has struggled with multiple injuries throughout his time in Europe. But his father believes it’s unfair to link that to his off-field choices.
Neymar’s time at PSG officially ended before the club finally won their first UEFA Champions League title last month. Still, his father felt pride and joy over the French side’s achievement, even though it came after his son, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé had all left.
“I was happy! I congratulated Nasser (al-Khelaifi), a friend. We were part of this project. Nasser knows that we climbed the mountain together,” Neymar Sr said.
He credited the long-term planning and investments made by PSG in infrastructure, youth, and staffing for finally getting them over the line. “They built a new training centre, invested in young players, new staff. Today, all the players want to sign there. Before, they wanted to leave to go to a bigger club.”
Neymar is now back at his boyhood club, Santos, where his football journey began. Looking forward, his father revealed a huge goal for the 32-year-old, leading Brazil in the 2026 World Cup.
“Now we’re going to prepare again for an impossible dream: winning the World Cup,” he said. “Carlo’s [Ancelotti] arrival is good, but no matter who’s in charge, we have to work. Everything is there to make it work. The team has style. And I can see Neymar with Vini, Rodrygo, Raphinha.”
With the backing of his family and renewed focus at Santos, Neymar could yet have one last shot at global glory. For now, his father wants the world to separate the player’s personal life from his professional one.
