Neymar Plays WSOP 2026 After Brazil's World Cup Exit

From Penalty Kicks to Poker Chips: What Happened

The 2026 World Cup ended in true drama for Brazil. In the Round of 16, the "Seleção" sensationally lost to Norway with a score of 1:2, and Brazil's only goal was scored by Neymar – from a penalty kick in stoppage time. After the final whistle, the forward couldn't hold back tears and announced his retirement from the national team.

It seemed like the perfect time to disappear from the radar. But already on July 11, the official WSOP account on social network X published a video of the star's arrival at the tournament venue in Las Vegas. The organizers welcomed the Brazilian and noted that he joined the $10,000 buy-in tournament approximately a week after his national team exited the World Cup.

The $10,000 Six-Max Tournament: What Kind of Event Is It?

Neymar chose not an entertainment event for celebrities, but a serious competition from the main schedule of WSOP 2026:

• Format: No-Limit Hold'em, maximum 6 players per table (Six-Max)

• Buy-in: $10,000 (about 51–54 thousand Brazilian Reals)

• Field: 191 participants, including the world's strongest professionals

The 6-max format is considered one of the most aggressive in No-Limit Hold'em: at a short table, you can't just sit back and wait for premium hands – you have to constantly enter the game. Choosing this particular tournament indicates that the Brazilian did not come for a photoshoot.

The star was joined by his longtime friends — Kris Guedes and Gil Cebola, who also shared footage from the tournament on social media.

Why Neymar Was in Vegas, Not at Practice

It's simple: the forward is on official vacation. Since Neymar was with the national team throughout the World Cup, "Santos" granted him several additional days of rest. The footballer is scheduled to return to the club on July 17, so he will miss the 19th round match of the Brazilian championship against "Botafogo."

The number ten for "Santos" is spending his vacation in the USA with flair: before Las Vegas, he was seen in Orlando amusement parks with his wife Bruna Biancardi and daughters. An interesting detail: Neymar sat down at the poker table on the exact day Brazil would have played its quarterfinal, had they beaten Norway.

Poker — Neymar's Longstanding Passion

For those who follow the poker world, Neymar's appearance at the WSOP is not a sensation, but a logical progression. The footballer's romance with poker has lasted for more than ten years:

• Mid-2010s — Neymar became an ambassador for the world's largest poker room and regularly appeared at live series.

• 2018 — while recovering from an injury, he posted photos from home poker sessions while his then-club PSG secured the championship.

• 2022 — first played live at the WSOP in Las Vegas, but was eliminated on Day 1.

• 2025 — reached the final table of a major online tournament with a $10,300 buy-in and, despite finishing last at it, earned over $26,000.

Neymar himself has repeatedly stated that after finishing his football career, he wants to play poker professionally. The level of his obsession with the game is perfectly illustrated by one fact: he named his first dog Poker.

What This Means for the Poker World

The appearance of stars of Neymar's caliber at the WSOP is a powerful marketing impulse for the entire industry. Every such visit brings millions of views to poker and introduces new audiences to the game — just as the "Moneymaker Effect" did after the amateur's sensational victory in the 2003 Main Event.

And for Neymar himself, who announced his departure from the national team, poker could become not just a hobby, but a full-fledged second career. His contract with "Santos" runs until the end of December 2026 — and, apparently, his plans for life after football are already laid out. Perhaps, exactly by suit.

In Short

• Neymar is playing in the $10,000 Six-Max NLH tournament at WSOP 2026 in Las Vegas.

• He joined the tournament less than a week after Brazil's elimination by Norway in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

• The news was first reported by the official WSOP account on July 11, 2026.

• This is Neymar's second live WSOP tournament — he first played in the series in 2022.

• The footballer openly states that after his career, he plans to play poker professionally.

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