Former Chef Sues Neymar Over Alleged 16-Hour Workdays and Workplace Injuries
Sports & Legal Affairs
Brazilian football star Neymar is facing legal action from a former personal chef who claims she endured exhausting working conditions at his mansion in Rio de Janeiro that allegedly caused long-term physical injuries.
According to reports cited by football outlet GOAL, the lawsuit alleges the chef was routinely required to work shifts lasting up to 16 hours a day, far exceeding the schedule outlined in her employment contract.
Claims of Excessive Working Hours
The chef’s legal complaint states that she was originally hired to work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. However, she claims her duties frequently extended well into the night.
According to the court filings reported by Brazilian media outlet Metrópoles, the chef often worked until 11 p.m. or midnight, and was also required to work during weekends despite those hours not being included in her contract.
The lawsuit alleges that the extended schedule was driven partly by the scale of meal preparation required at the player’s residence in Mangaratiba, where she reportedly cooked not only for Neymar but also for gatherings involving as many as 150 friends and associates.
Allegations of Denied Breaks
The complaint further claims the chef was regularly denied her legally mandated lunch break. According to statements from her legal team, she was allegedly required to register that she had taken a break while continuing to work.
Her lawyers argue that throughout the duration of her employment contract, she was effectively unable to stop working during the recorded break period.
Health Problems Cited in Lawsuit
The former employee says the physical demands of the job caused serious health issues.
According to the filings, she frequently handled heavy loads while preparing large quantities of food, including meat portions weighing around 10 kilograms and large supermarket shopping bags needed to supply meals for large gatherings.
The lawsuit claims that the repeated lifting and long hours standing resulted in back problems and hip inflammation, conditions that she attributes directly to the working environment at Neymar’s estate.
Medical documentation referenced in the case reportedly supports her claim that the injuries were linked to the workload she experienced during her employment.
Compensation Sought
The chef, who reportedly earned around £1,065 per month, is seeking £37,544 in total compensation.
According to the claim, the amount covers several categories including:
Severance pay
Unpaid overtime
Fines linked to labour law violations
Medical treatment costs
Damages related to the alleged denial of mandated rest periods
Neymar Yet to Respond Publicly
Local media reports say Neymar has not publicly commented on the allegations. Representatives for the footballer have also not issued a detailed response regarding the lawsuit.
The case emerges as the Santos forward continues to compete for a place in the national squad managed by Carlo Ancelotti, which is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Legal Context
Labour disputes involving domestic staff and household workers have drawn increasing attention in Brazil in recent years, with courts frequently examining issues such as excessive working hours, rest periods and workplace safety within private residences.
If the case proceeds through Brazil’s labour courts, judges will examine employment records, medical reports and contractual agreements to determine whether labour laws were violated and whether compensation is warranted.
For now, the lawsuit places one of Brazil’s most famous footballers at the centre of a dispute that could test the legal obligations of high-profile employers toward staff working inside private estates.