The Brazilian star’s controversies continue while he’s sidelined with an ACL injury.
Brazilian football star Neymar has reportedly initiated legal proceedings against transgender influencer Sophia Barclay for defamation.
The lawsuit, filed in the São Paulo State Court of Justice, seeks a minimum of 100,000 Brazilian reais (over 18,000 euros) in damages. According to Brazilian outlet UOL, Neymar’s legal team points to interviews given by Barclay to multiple media outlets, alleging that her statements have tarnished the player’s “dignity, image, and reputation.”
Barclay, in interviews from December 2021, claimed to have engaged in intimate relationships with Neymar and surfer Pedro Scooby during a party.
She further asserted that Neymar proposed a confidentiality agreement to keep their relationship private, subject to a 20,000 Brazilian reais (3,700 euros) fine. The former Barcelona star’s court documents also mention a pending request for Barclay to provide explanations in another legal context.
Acknowledging her mistake, Barclay publicly apologized to those involved but disclosed facing death threats from Neymar’s fans and experiencing panic attacks since the matter surfaced. The case’s outcome remains uncertain, but it adds a significant layer to the ongoing discourse on LGBTQ+ rights in Brazil.
Neymar is expected to miss the remainder of the football season after undergoing ACL surgery in October.
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