Brazil was still processing the blow: out of the 2026 World Cup in the round of 16, eliminated by Norway. Neymar, meanwhile, was already at another table. Literally: he entered the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, playing for a prize of just $10,000, while Santos was counting the days until his return.
The Brazilian club had set a deadline for him: July 17 to rejoin the squad. The image quickly went viral and criticism came from all sides. And this was only the beginning.
Ten days later, the story repeated itself. On July 22, with Santos thrashing their opponent in the Copa Sudamericana, Neymar was once again at a poker table, this time in São Paulo 🎲. His response to the criticism left no doubt about what he thinks: “life is a joke”, he wrote, smiling. Then came the announcement that many had already seen coming: he will no longer play for the Brazil national team.
