Why Neymar became a competitive and profitable poker player.
Neymar has been playing poker for 12 years, has accumulated over R$ 2,4 million in winnings, and participated in the Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP) Winter in São Paulo while Santos was playing in the Copa Sudamericana playoffs. Resting from the match, the striker trained in the morning before traveling to the tournament. In the current season, he has accumulated just over R$ 300 in winnings from tournaments with publicly recorded results.
The player's journey in the mental sport was reported by O Globo. Neymar discovered poker in 2014, during the Brazilian national team's training camp for the World Cup. Since then, he has participated in events of the BSOP, the World Series of Poker (WSOP), and the European Poker Tour (EPT) in Barcelona. He became an ambassador for PokerStars and, according to documented data, has accumulated more than R$ 2,4 million in prize money over the years.
The involvement gained consistency outside the tables as well. Neymar often reviews hands, discusses strategies with Rafael Moraes, CEO of BSOP, and with André Akkari, world poker champion and one of those responsible for introducing him deeply to the game. He studies table positioning, stack sizes (number of chips), and opponent profiles.
The perspective of someone who plays with him.
According to Moraes, the first Brazilian to surpass US$1 million in online winnings , Neymar's dedication goes beyond a casual hobby. “Neymar is the guy I know, in over 20 years of tournaments, who has the strongest desire to win. When he discovered poker, he realized it was a mental game, that he could study, train, and improve. Football remains his great passion. Poker has become his second,” stated the CEO of BSOP.
Moraes also described the striker's playing style. “Neymar is a complete striker, he brings his life style to poker. He's aggressive, bluffs well, and it's very difficult to bluff against him. In moments of high pressure, he rises to the occasion. It's like a decisive penalty kick. He doesn't feel that pressure.” The two jointly created the BSOP ONE Neymar Jr., a tournament held in December, after the end of the season, for invited players only.
The atmosphere at the poker tables also offers something rare for Neymar. “It’s the place where he takes the fewest photos. Everything he does becomes an event. In poker, Neymar sits at the table and is treated like just another player. That’s a factor in why he enjoys it so much. He can get together with friends and family, hold private tournaments, and compete,” said Moraes.
Debate on routine and performance
Neymar's presence in tournaments during Santos games has reignited the debate about the limits of this hobby. Last year, he was seen playing online matches in a VIP box at Vila Belmiro while the club was playing. Santos stated that the athletes have autonomy during their time off or when they are not selected for matches. Neymar's representatives did not respond to the report.
According to physiologist Gabriel Espinosa, from the Human Performance Laboratory at Casa de Saúde São José, the problem isn't the choice of activity. “If it occupies hours that should be dedicated to sleep and rest, it starts to affect recovery, performance, and injury prevention,” he stated. “Restorative rest is key. When this period is occupied by highly stimulating activities, it impairs sleep quality, increases cortisol, and impacts performance the following day. That's why clubs usually advise athletes to reduce this type of exposure at night,” he added.
Sports psychologist Yan Cintra, without specifically analyzing Neymar's case, assessed that elite athletes frequently seek new avenues for competitiveness outside their primary sports. “When one's entire identity is concentrated on the role of athlete, moments like injuries, defeats, or retirement are usually experienced with more suffering. Having other interests broadens that identity and helps the person realize they are worth more than just their sporting performance,” he stated. Cintra also considered that “the important thing is that the second activity complements, and does not replace, the main one.”
The BSOP, a circuit in which Neymar is one of thousands of participants, brings together between 20 and 30 players per season and distributed R$ 134 million in prizes in 2025, the third largest amount in Brazilian sports, behind only the Copa do Brasil and the Brasileirão.
Neymar has not yet defined his next career steps. Moraes doesn't believe the striker will pursue a professional career. “I don't think he'll turn professional. He's a businessman, he has many commitments, and money has never been what attracted him to poker. But I believe that when he retires, he'll play much more. What motivates Neymar is competing,” said the CEO of BSOP.
