Neymar puts injury recovery to one side as Brazilian star parties with singer Rafaela Porto at carnival
- Neymar momentarily put his injury recovery to one side as he went to a carnival
- The Brazil and PSG star partied with a Rafaela Porto at the Salvador event
- An ex-contestant on The Voice Brazil, Porto attended Neymar's birthday in Paris
- He has spent time back in his home country of late in a bid to regain his fitness
Having pushed himself on the bike, in the gym and in the pool, Neymar put his injury rehabilitation to one side on Friday night as he partied at a carnival.
The Paris Saint-Germain star has spent his time out injured back in his home country and felt he deserved some time to enjoy himself as he partied with former Voice Brazil contestant Rafaela Porto at the famous Bahian Carnival.
It is considered by many to be the biggest carnival in the world and with his close friends, including surfer Gabriel Medina, alongside him, Neymar was all smiles.
Neymar was all smiles as he partied at a carnival in Salvador on Friday night with close friends
The PSG ace spent a lot of the night close to former Voice Brazil contestant Rafaela Porto
The blonde smiles as she speaks to the Brazilian footballer during carnival performances
Neymar momentarily put his injury recovery to one side as he let loose at the carnival event
Porto is from Bahia and perfected make-up for the event while Neymar attended with friends
Wearing a black cap and a white vest top, which reads 'Viva O Inexplicavel' (Live The Inexplicable), Neymar looked care-free as he looked down on the thousands who gathered for the carnival below.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed that Neymar and former partner Bruna Marquezine were both in Salvador at the event although the PSG attacker was pictured instead speaking to Porto for large parts of the evening.
Neymar and Porto previously spent time together when she attended his 27th birthday celebrations in Paris earlier this month.
Porto is 19 and rose to prominence in Brazil when she entered onto The Voice Brazil.
Neymar has been out of match action since damaging his metatarsal bone back in January
But while he has been working hard to speed up his return, he enjoyed the chance to party
While his party antics in the state of Bahia came as a rare treat amid his gruelling rehabilitation programme, it does not look set to be the last of his celebrations with the Rio Carnival on the horizon.
That carnival in the capital is considered to be one of the most cultural events in Brazil and Neymar is planning on attending, according to reports in the country.
That would clash with PSG's Champions League second-leg with Manchester United on March 6 with boss Thomas Tuchel keen to see his prized asset back in the French capital to complete his return to fitness.
The Brazilian has been forced to watch from the sidelines since breaking a metatarsal bone in his right foot in January in a French Cup game against Strasbourg.
Alongside friends including surfer Gabriel Medina, Neymar cut a relaxed figure at the event
Enjoying the carnival from a VIP box, the 27-year-old looked to blow a kiss from the balcony
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