Neymar Attends Poker Tournament While Santos Rout Universidad Central 4-1
Neymar was absent from Santos's Copa Sudamericana squad as his club defeated Universidad Central 4-1 in Venezuela, with the Brazilian forward spotted that same evening competing at the Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP) Winter edition in São Paulo. According to ESPN Brazil, he was seen at the Golden Hall of the WTC Complex participating in the fourth stage of the national championship. His absence from the travelling party was a deliberate club decision, not an unauthorised departure.
Santos manager Cuca addressed the arrangement directly after the final whistle, explaining that Neymar had been left behind to complete a structured fitness programme following his return from international duty. "Since he was sidelined for a few days and didn't have a holiday, we decided to let him get even stronger, training hard so he could have a run of games," Cuca said. "Now, in ten days, we're going to play four matches. What advantage would it be to bring him here? You saw how hard and exhausting the trip is. He stayed there working, just like [Willian] Arao, Joao Schmidt, and Igor Vinicius, and that gives us more options for the upcoming games." Several other Santos players were similarly kept back in Brazil under the same arrangement. horse racing ante post betting
Neymar has a documented history with the BSOP circuit. At the same tournament's prior edition, he finished with winnings of R$53,500, according to the draft. He had also posted training footage on social media in the days before the match, showing him working with the ball at the club's facilities - imagery Cuca's comments suggest was consistent with the prescribed programme. Santos, who sit 15th in the domestic league table, face a congested run of fixtures in the coming days, with Cuca confirming Neymar will return to the squad for the weekend fixture against Chapecoense.
The 4-1 victory in Caracas gives Santos a commanding advantage ahead of the second leg of their Copa Sudamericana playoff tie at the Vila Belmiro. Progress would place them in a round-of-16 meeting with Ecuadorian side Macara. The result also arrives at a personal crossroads for Neymar, who announced his retirement from international football following Brazil's 2-1 defeat to Norway at the 2026 World Cup - a tournament exit that ended his 130-cap, 80-goal career with the Seleção. With international commitments behind him, his focus and availability now belong entirely to Santos for the remainder of his playing career.
