By Achile Danjuma
Brazilian football star Neymar is facing a lawsuit from a former personal chef who claims she was subjected to gruelling working conditions at his Rio de Janeiro estate that left her with lasting physical injuries, football website GOAL has reported.
According to GOAL on Saturday, which cited Brazilian outlet Metropoles as having sight of the court documents, the chef was required to prepare meals daily not only for the Santos and Brazil forward but also for an entourage of up to 150 friends and associates.
The scale of the task allegedly forced her into 16-hour shifts, far exceeding the hours stipulated in her original contract, which required her to work from 7am to 5pm on Mondays to Thursdays and from 7am to 4pm on Fridays.
Despite those agreed terms, the chef alleged that she frequently worked until 11pm or midnight, including on weekends, and was routinely denied her legally mandated lunch break.
According to the court documents, she was required to clock in for the break even while she remained actively working.
GOAL quoted the chef’s legal team as stating, “The claimant did not regularly enjoy a lunch break. Throughout the entire employment contract, the plaintiff was required by the defendant to clock in for the lunch break, even though she remained actively working during that period.”
The physical demands of the role reportedly took a severe toll on her health. She claimed that carrying meat portions weighing 10kg and loading heavy supermarket bags during extended shifts caused her to develop back problems and hip inflammation. These conditions form a central part of her legal argument.
GOAL reported that the intense workload, which required the chef to stand for extended periods without adequate rest, resulted in documented medical issues that she directly attributes to her duties at the Mangaratiba mansion.
The chef, who earned the equivalent of approximately £1,065 per month, is now seeking £37,544 in total compensation.
GOAL said the figure is intended to cover severance pay, fines, unpaid overtime, medical expenses for injuries sustained and damages for the denial of mandated rest periods during her employment.
Neymar, who is currently pushing for a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, has declined to comment on the allegations when approached by local media, according to GOAL.