Neymar plays in WSOP tournament following international retirement
Following Brazil's 2026 World Cup exit and his subsequent retirement from international football, Neymar was spotted at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Author: Renan Katayama
Following his retirement from international football with Brazil, forward Neymar has turned his attention to the felt of the poker table. The Santos star was seen participating in the prestigious $10,000 main event at the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas.
His stint at the tables was short-lived, as the former Barcelona and PSG man failed to advance past Day 1 of the competition. This early exit mirrors his recent disappointment on the international stage, where Brazil saw their 2026 World Cup campaign end in the round of 16 against Norway.
Neymar's final tournament with the national team was marred by fitness issues, limiting him to two substitute appearances while nursing a calf injury. His final contribution in a yellow shirt was a stoppage-time penalty in the loss to the Norwegians.
"Unfortunately, these past few days, due to load management, I haven't been able to play, so I've had this time to do what I enjoy most, which is playing a little poker, besides football." Neymar
While his poker hobby has often drawn scrutiny, the 34-year-old's career statistics remain impressive. Having played for Santos, Barcelona, PSG, and Al-Hilal, he has accumulated 457 goals and 262 assists at the professional level. As he moves into the final chapter of his club career, his legacy continues to be a subject of intense debate among fans and pundits.