Neymar's assailant Duk: He needs to drop the 'cocky' attitude

The man who left Neymar on the turf with blood pouring from his face on Thursday has told the Brazil star to tone down his "Charlie Big Bollocks" behaviour.

The relentless Barcelona forward scored one and assisted two in his country's merciless 5-0 battering of Bolivia in a World Cup qualifier, but was soon withdrawn after Yasmani Duk met Neymar with a stray elbow just after an hour.

The Brazilian was also booked earlier in the contest for dissent toward referee Wilson Lamouroux.

"Neymar was being a bit too cocky," said the New York Cosmos loanee Duk, as translated by AS. "He was like that with all of us throughout the game.

"All I was trying to do was cut off a move, which is what happens in football. Everyone knows the sport has its physical side - I had my nose broken and no one says a word."

A counter-argument is that Neymar was the recipient of rough treatment all match, like when he was bodychecked by Edward Zenteno en route to assisting Filipe Luis for Canarinho's third:

But, just as national team boss Tite said Neymar would benefit from greater maturity on the pitch, Duk says less arrogance would help him progress even further as a footballer - albeit wording that in more brash terms.

"To become the best player in the world, he's got to stop this 'Charlie Big Bollocks' behaviour and start showing some respect for his opponents," Duk opined.

Neymar has to serve a one-game suspension due to receiving his second yellow card in three qualification tilts, meaning the likes of Roberto Firmino and Taison have the opportunity to partner Gabriel Jesus and Philippe Countinho in the front three during Tuesday's trip to Venezuela.