Neymar's party lifestyle 'adding to injuries and stopping him becoming a great like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi'
NEYMAR'S party lifestyle contributes to his injury problems, according to one media report in France.
The 29-year-old Paris Saint-Germain winger will miss the Champions League last 16 first leg against his former club Barcelona.
He was injured in PSG's French Cup win at Caen, and will miss the game with a groin injury.
French newspaper L'Equipe believes that his hectic lifestyle OFF the pitch contributes to his time on the treatment table.
Neymar is well-known for throwing lavish birthday celebrations, often inviting team-mates to help him celebrate.
In an interview with French radio station TF1 recently the Brazilian blasted accusations that this makes him 'immature'.
He said: "So, who doesn't like to party? Everyone likes to have fun.
"I know when I can go, I know when I can do it, when I can't."
But L'Equipe go so far as to compare Neymar to the 'big two' – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – and how they condition themselves away from the training ground.
The newspaper writes: "Serious, diligent and rigorous in the sessions, the Brazilian believes, perhaps too often, that his work stops at the exit of the Parc des Princes or the Camp des Loges, once the games or training sessions are over.
"Other great players, Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for example, do not celebrate their birthdays with great pomp.
"And next week, the two Ballon d'Or winners will be able to compete in the Champions League. Unlike Neymar."
Both the multiple Ballon d'Or winners regularly post photos of them working out at home and share exercise and diet tips to their fans.
Messi, 33, and Ronaldo, 36, usually enjoy long stretches of games without injury thanks to their superb conditioning.
Neymar's latest injury comes just a month before his sister's birthday.
Some football fans on social media have speculated that this latest period of time on the sidelines is somehow linked to this.
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Coincidentally, the Brazilian superstar almost always appears to pick up a knock just before sister Rafaella Santos celebrates her big day.
The 'curse' started in 2015 while playing for Barcelona.
But Neymar has hit back at his critics and insisted he is 'saddened' by what has happened.
Posting on Instagram, the 103-cap Brazil international wrote: "The sadness is great, the pain is immense and the crying is constant.
"Once again for a while I will stop doing what I love most in life, which is playing football.
"Sometimes I feel uncomfortable because of my style of play, because I dribble and constantly get hacked, I don't know if the problem is me or what I do on the pitch … it really saddens me.
"It makes me too sad to hear from a player, coach, commentator or whoever else, "he really has to be kicked” “he dives“ "cries" "kid" "spoiled”… etc.
"Honestly it saddens me and I don't know how long I can take it, I just want to be happy playing football. NOTHING ELSE."
Neymar only recovered from a month-long ankle injury in mid-January.
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