Brazilian football star Neymar Jr. is facing a lawsuit filed by his former personal chef, who claims she was forced to work 16-hour days, sometimes including feeding up to 150 people who comprised the player’s large entourage.
The plaintiff also alleges she suffered physical injuries while preparing food at one of Neymar’s residences in Rio de Janeiro.
Neymar owns two villas, and the chef working at one of them, Casa Hotel Portobello, between July 2025 and February of this year, was the subject of the lawsuit.
The chef filed the lawsuit in the Regional Labor Court of District 1, and the Brazilian newspaper Metropolis reported that it had reviewed court documents. The chef claims she worked 16-hour days for Neymar, which required her to feed the player and up to 150 of his friends and associates daily.
The initial contract stipulated that she would work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. However, the cook claims she often worked until 11 p.m. or midnight, and even on weekends. She is also believed to have worked during her legally mandated lunch hour.
The cook claims she suffered physical injuries due to the demands of her job, which included carrying approximately 10 kilograms of meat and loading and unloading heavy bags, resulting in back problems and a pelvic inflammation.
As a result, the former cook, who was paid £1,065 per month (7,500 Brazilian reais), is seeking £37,544 (262,000 Brazilian reais) in compensation, including severance pay, penalties, overtime pay, compensation for lost time, and medical expenses.
The third-party employer hired on Neymar’s behalf was also named as a defendant in the case. The Brazilian striker declined to comment to local media when contacted about the situation.
