Brazilian football star Neymar is facing a lawsuit from a former personal chef who claims she suffered injuries after being forced to work extremely long hours at his luxury residence in Brazil.
The woman, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, alleged that she was subjected to harsh working conditions while employed at Neymar’s mansion in Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro.
According to court documents, the chef said she was required to prepare meals not only for the footballer but also for a large number of guests and associates who regularly visited the property.
She claimed the workload became overwhelming as she often had to cook for gatherings of up to 150 people at the residence.
The former employee alleged that the heavy demands forced her to work shifts lasting up to 16 hours per day, far beyond the schedule originally agreed in her employment contract.
Her contract reportedly stated that she should work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Thursday and from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays.
However, she claimed she frequently remained on duty until late at night, sometimes working until 11 p.m. or midnight while also being required to work on weekends.
The chef also alleged that she was regularly denied her legally required lunch break despite being instructed to record that the break had been taken.
According to the lawsuit, she continued working during the supposed break periods while still being required to log them as rest time.
The physical nature of the job reportedly took a toll on her health. She claimed the role involved lifting heavy food items, including meat weighing about 10 kilograms, and carrying large grocery bags.
The chef said these tasks, combined with long hours of standing, caused back pain and inflammation in her hips.
Medical examinations were reportedly carried out after she began experiencing severe discomfort linked to the strenuous work conditions.
She is now seeking about £37,500 in compensation, covering unpaid overtime, medical expenses, severance pay and damages related to the alleged working conditions.
Neymar has not publicly responded to the allegations as of the time the lawsuit became public.
The Brazilian forward, who plays for Santos FC and hopes to feature for Brazil in the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, continues his professional career while the legal matter unfolds.