Neymar plays in poker tournament hours before Santos match

While Santos traveled for the Copa Sudamericana playoffs, Neymar took part in a professional poker tournament.

Rested by the coaching staff to avoid the strain of the long trip, Neymar used his days in São Paulo to participate in the fourth stage of the Brazilian Poker Championship (BSOP).

Neymar plays in poker tournament hours

The No. 10 was not missed, and Peixe beat Universidad Central 4-1, all but securing a place in the Copa Sudamericana round of 16.

As he was left out of the traveling squad, the No. 10 made the most of his free time in the São Paulo capital and showed up at the Golden Hall of the WTC Complex alongside friends, even bringing a card protector with the Santos crest.

As the event runs until July 30, organizers expect the forward to return to the tables in the coming days.

Neymar’s passion for poker is nothing new, and he usually performs well.

At the same stage of the national tournament last year, in 2025, the star showed that his skill goes beyond the pitch: he delivered an excellent technical performance and pocketed R$53,500 in prize money.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.