Neymar has used a television advert to attempt to tackle critics who derided his play-acting at the World Cup, admitting he "overreacts" and blaming his "brat" like behaviour on his inner child.
The Brazilian superstar was widely lambasted in Russia for his theatrical reactions to challenges which often left the world's most expensive footballer wincing and rolling on the ground.
But in an advert released this week, the Paris Saint-Germain forward has claimed it has been due to past fouls and mistreatment from other players that helped contribute to his behaviour.
"Boot studs on the shins, kick in the spine, stomp on the foot, you may think I overreact, and sometimes I do, but for real? I suffer on the pitch, but you have no idea what I go through outside of it," he said in comments on a television commercial for a razor blade.
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The Paris Saint-Germain forward, speaking in Portuguese with English subtitles, continued "You may all think I've fallen too much, but the reality is I did not fall, I crumbled."
"And that hurts more than anyone stepping on your post op ankle," he added, alluding to the surgery on the injury he suffered back in February.
"When I act like a brat, it isn't because I'm a spoiled child, but because I still haven't learned to deal with my frustrations. There's still a boy inside of me, sometimes it dazzles the world.
"And my fight is to keep this boy alive, but inside of me, not inside the field."
He adds: "You can keep throwing rocks at me, or you can throw your rocks away and help me get up. Because when I do get up the whole of Brazil gets up with me."
This is not the first time Neymar has addressed his taxing World Cup.
On his return from Russia he took a tongue in cheek swipe at his detractors with an online video teaching children how to dive.
And last week Neymar disclosed he "didn't want to see a ball, or to see any more football played" after Brazil's premature exit.
