Neymar’s latest appearance at the poker tables has attracted attention in Brazil after the Santos star competed at the Brazilian Series of Poker while his teammates recorded an emphatic Copa Sudamericana victory in Venezuela.
The 34-year-old entered the BSOP Winter festival in São Paulo on Tuesday, July 21st, continuing a busy month that has already included Brazil’s World Cup elimination and a brief appearance at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
While Neymar played cards at the Golden Hall of the WTC Events Center, Santos defeated Universidad Central 4-1 in the first leg of their Copa Sudamericana knockout-round playoff.
Neymar Plays BSOP Winter in São Paulo
Neymar participated in the fourth stage of the 2026 Brazilian Series of Poker season after being left out of the Santos travelling squad.
The BSOP is Brazil’s leading live poker tour and regularly attracts professional players, recreational qualifiers and celebrities. Neymar is no stranger to the series, having competed in previous editions and collected R$53,500 during a BSOP appearance in 2025.
His latest tournament appearance was authorised by Santos, with manager Cuca choosing to spare several players from the demanding trip to Venezuela. Neymar remained in São Paulo alongside Willian Arão, João Schmidt and Igor Vinícius as the group continued its physical preparation.
Neymar’s decision to spend part of his free time playing poker inevitably generated discussion among supporters. However, the forward had not skipped a scheduled club commitment to enter the tournament.
Santos Explain Why Neymar Missed Copa Sudamericana Match
Cuca said Neymar was left at home because the club wanted him to improve his conditioning following Brazil’s World Cup campaign.
The Santos coach explained that the team faces four matches within ten days and believed a long trip to Venezuela would offer little benefit to a player still rebuilding his fitness.
Neymar has continued training with Santos and is expected to return for the club’s domestic fixture against Chapecoense.
His absence did not prevent Santos from taking control of their Copa Sudamericana tie. The Brazilian side secured a 4-1 away victory over Universidad Central, building a commanding advantage ahead of the second leg at Vila Belmiro.
Neymar’s Poker Run Continues After WSOP Appearance
The BSOP appearance came shortly after Neymar travelled to Las Vegas to compete at the 2026 World Series of Poker.
He entered the prestigious $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Six-Max Championship on July 11th at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. The tournament attracted many of the world’s strongest players and represented one of Neymar’s biggest tests at a professional poker table.
Neymar was eliminated during the opening day and did not reach the money.
His WSOP entry came less than a week after Brazil suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Norway in the World Cup round of 16. Neymar scored a late penalty but could not prevent Brazil from recording its earliest World Cup elimination since 1990.
The emotional forward appeared to signal the end of his international career after the match. He finishes the campaign with 80 goals from 130 Brazil appearances, although formal confirmation of his retirement has remained less definitive than some initial reports suggested.
Poker Has Long Been Part of Neymar’s Life
Neymar’s interest in poker goes well beyond occasional celebrity tournament appearances.
He has regularly played online and live events, appeared at major poker festivals and shared home games with friends and fellow footballers. His competitive personality and willingness to enter difficult tournaments have helped make him one of the most visible sporting figures associated with poker.
The Brazilian has previously described poker as a game that rewards concentration, decision-making and emotional control. Those qualities have clear similarities with elite football, where players must process information quickly while performing under pressure.
His results remain modest compared with established professionals, but Neymar is not simply appearing for photographs. Entering a $10,000 WSOP championship and competing on Brazil’s largest live tour shows that he is prepared to test himself against experienced opposition.
Neymar Balances Santos Return With Poker Ambitions
Neymar’s immediate priority will now return to football as Santos attempt to climb away from the lower end of Brazil’s Série A table and complete their progress in the Copa Sudamericana.
However, his appearances in Las Vegas and São Paulo suggest poker will remain a major part of his life away from the pitch.
With his international career potentially over and fewer national-team commitments ahead, poker fans may see considerably more of Neymar at major tournaments in Brazil and overseas.
