Santos star Neymar reacts to journalist's claims about his bad habits

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :September 28, 2025 at 6:24 PM

Modified at :September 28, 2025 at 6:24 PM

(Courtesy : Getty Images)

The Brazilian forward has three goals in the league so far.

Neymar has rocked Brazil’s media scene once more. Journalist Rodolfo Gomes claims that the Santos forward is continuing to engage in behaviours that are incompatible with performing at a high level.

Gomes said the athlete was “addicted to whisky with energy drinks, smokes hookah, and goes to bed at 4 or 5 in the morning” on his station Futeboteco.

The reporter added that the team’s schedule has been affected by this habit, with training sessions being rescheduled to accommodate Neymar.

He even implied that in an effort to “indirectly expose” the problem, new coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda would shift training to earlier hours. Numerous Brazilian media sites echoed these allegations, which sparked a contentious discussion on the star’s discipline.

Neymar’s legal team files a legal complaint against the journalist

CBF announce new rule & yellow card for standing on the ball — Neymar is currently recovering from an injury. (Photo by Miguel Schincariol/Getty Images)

The reports were not unanswered. Neymar’s legal team, NR Sports, called the comments “reckless, defamatory, slanderous, and false” in a statement. In addition to confirming that “all civil and criminal legal measures are being taken to hold those involved accountable,” the player’s legal team cautioned about the risks of disseminating false information that could damage the player’s reputation.

Neymar responded sarcastically on social media, sharing an Instagram story with an energy drink in hand and writing, “ADDICTED to Red Bull.”

“That one’s great,” he said, then winked, a direct reference to the charges.

After the 1-0 victory over São Paulo, coach Vojvoda bemoaned the forward’s absence and emphasised Neymar’s significance as a team leader and symbol.

Has Neymar’s habit affected the team’s training schedule?

According to the journalist, the forward’s habit has resulted in Santos rescheduling their training.

Is forward smoking hookah and drinking energy drinks true?

Although the journalist has reported so, the player’s legal team denied such claims and is taking legal action against them.

When will the 33-year-old return from an injury?

Reports say he won’t return until November.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.

Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.