'I have been scarred': Neymar makes first statement since judge drops rape case

Neymar has released a statement after a judge in Brazil ordered the closure of the investigation into claims the football star raped a model in a Paris hotel room in May.

The Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain forward was accused of raping model Najila Trindade Mendes de Souza in the French capital on May 15.

However, this week Brazilian prosecutors followed the police recommendation that the case be dropped due to a lack of evidence.

READ MORE: Case closed: Judge orders official end to Neymar rape investigation

Neymar, 27, had repeatedly rejected the accusations and released a statement on his Instagram account of Friday saying that his “world had come crashing down” but that he was “relieved” the case was now closed.

"This has been a stage in my life I'll never forget for many reasons. Mainly for the damage it has caused me, my family and the people who really know me. If I'm being honest, I can't say I'm happy, more relieved. This scar will remind me that human beings can do good things, but also the worst.

"Yes, my world has come crashing down and hit the ground. But as a jiu-jitsu legend once said: the ground is the final of everything, but for us it's just the beginning," he wrote in Portuguese.

He also offered support for the victims of sexual assault, writing: "I hope it isn't just a new beginning for me but for all those who have suffered from false accusations and, above all, for every woman who has been a victim of such an act.

“I wish for them to be strong, to fight and to achieve everything they deserve to. As always, thank you God for everything."

Police are still probing whether the model falsely reported a rape, while Neymar is being investigated over images and messages he shared without the consent of Trindade after the initial reports of the accusations were reported.