Neymar responds to critics: I was born to be happy, not to be perfect

The 23-year-old is currently enjoying his first real break from the game since 2010 and has hit back at those suggesting he is living to excess

Brazil captain Neymar has responded to criticism of his recent behaviour.

The Barcelona star was handed a four-match ban following his red card and subsequent clash with the match referee in the Selecao's Copa America group-stage defeat to Colombia last month.

Brazil played just twice more in Chile, eventually going out in the quarter-finals to Paraguay on penalties, leaving Neymar unavailable for his country’s first two World Cup qualifiers, against Colombia and Ecuador in October.

Currently enjoying his vacation in Las Vegas, the 23-year-old will skip Barca’s US tour this month as he and club-mate Lionel Messi are only scheduled to return to Spain at the beginning of August.

Neymar took to social media to address criticism of his perceived off-field extravagances during his much-deserved break, with international obligations having left him unable to take an extended post-season break since 2010.

After missing out on a place at World Cup 2010, he participated in the Copa America 2011, Olympic Games 2012, Confederations Cup 2013, World Cup 2014 and this year’s Copa America.

"I was born to be happy, not to be perfect," he said via social media.