For the first time in six years, PSG star Neymar will miss the Rio Carnival and play football during early March.

The Brazilian superstar has always been sidelined during early March due to either injuries and suspensions, but fans have noticed a pattern in his absences. Neymar’s sister, Rafaella Santos, celebrates her birthday on March 11 – a date that the former Barcelona man has mysteriously always been around to celebrate, despite it being in the business end of the football season.

However, it appears the 28-year-old will be available to play for PSG during the carnival for the first time since joining the club.

Neymar is set to miss the Rio Carnival for the first time in six years after mysterious absences

He has been unavailable for selection at the same time the Carnival has been held since 2015

Last year, Neymar fought through the pain of a broken metatarsal to party the night away

In 2015, during his second season at Barcelona after joining from Santos, Neymar served a one-match ban due to the accumulation of too many yellow cards. He managed to be sentenced to the same length ban, during the same week a season later.

In 2017, he suffered muscular problems that saw him out of action again for his sister’s birthday during his final season at the Catalan giants.

In 2018, after his big money move to the French capital, Neymar had a Metatarsal fracture that saw him miss 16 matches from late February to late May.

Football fans have made a link between Neymar’s absences and his sister’s birthday

And last year, it was the metatarsal again, but this time it was broken. However, that didn’t stop him hopping along to the Carnival and partying the night away in the company of pop stars and friends.

PSG will be keeping their fingers crossed that the Brazilian doesn’t pick up another injury to add to his long list during the samba-themed celebrations.

The Ligue 1 champions have a French Cup semi-final against Lyon and a Champions League tie with Dortmund coming up in that time.