Neymar turns to poker after Brazil's early World Cup exit

After Brazil’s elimination from the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, Neymar Junior has leaned on another sport, as the star forward was seen competing in a poker competition in the US on Saturday.

The 34-year-old turned up at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas, joining the $10,000 main event.

According to Fox Sports, Neymar is not new to this event, having made the final table at last year's edition.

This year’s run was shorter though, with Neymar knocked out before the end of Day 1 – mirroring Brazil’s early exit following a 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16 on July 5.

An emotional Neymar hinted at international retirement right after the match. However, an official statement from the player or the Brazilian football authorities is yet to arrive.

A calf injury restricted him to two substitute appearances at the tournament, with his only goal coming from a stoppage-time penalty against Norway.

The 34-year-old’s enthusiasm for poker is well known and has created some controversies. Earlier this year, he had reportedly spent close to 24 hours playing online poker while being sidelined due to injury for his club Santos.

The incident triggered criticism, but he defended the habit, saying time away from matches through load management allowed him to pursue poker alongside football.

If he follows through with his retirement declaration, he will have more time in hand to focus on poker.