Neymar returned to the spotlight just days after Brazil’s World Cup elimination by entering a $10,000 poker tournament in Las Vegas.

The 34-year-old took his seat in the six-handed No-Limit Hold’em Championship at the World Series of Poker on Saturday, less than a week after Brazil were knocked out by Norway.

His appearance drew attention on social media because of its timing, although there is limited evidence to support claims of a widespread backlash among Brazilian supporters.

Neymar takes seat at World Series of Poker

According to an official post from the World Series of Poker, Neymar entered the $10,000 six-max tournament on July 11.

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“Welcome to the 2026 WSOP, Neymar Jr. The Brazilian football superstar has entered the $10,000 six-max after his country was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup roughly one week ago,” the organisers wrote.

The tournament was Event 94 on the official WSOP programme. It was played as a freezeout, meaning eliminated players could not re-enter, and featured a maximum of six competitors at each table.

Neymar has been an enthusiastic poker player for several years and has previously appeared at World Series of Poker events. Details of his finishing position, winnings or losses from the latest tournament were not immediately available in the reports confirming his participation.

Appearance follows painful Brazil exit

Brazil’s World Cup campaign ended on July 5 when Erling Haaland scored twice in Norway’s 2-1 victory at New York New Jersey Stadium.

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Neymar had started the match on the bench but was introduced during the second half. He converted a penalty in stoppage time, although the goal came too late to prevent Brazil’s earliest World Cup exit since 1990.

As reported by Reuters following the defeat, Neymar appeared to indicate that he had played his final international match.

“I tried, I tried. Now it’s over. I started here, I finished here,” he said, referring to the same stadium in which he made his Brazil debut against the United States in 2010.

The remarks strongly suggested a farewell, but Neymar has not subsequently published a detailed or formal retirement statement.

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Limited role at the tournament

Neymar’s selection for the World Cup had been the subject of considerable debate because of his recent injury problems and limited playing time.

The Santos forward missed Brazil’s opening two group matches before making his return as a substitute during the 3-0 victory over Scotland. His only other appearance came against Norway, meaning he completed the tournament with two substitute outings and one goal.

He was visibly emotional after the final whistle and had to be consoled by teammates as Brazil’s wait for a sixth World Cup title was extended to at least 28 years.

Poker appearance attracts attention

Neymar’s decision to travel to Las Vegas so soon after the defeat inevitably prompted discussion online. Some supporters questioned whether entering a high-profile poker tournament sent the right message after a disappointing campaign.

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However, the available reporting largely confirms his participation rather than documenting a substantial or organised backlash. It would therefore be misleading to suggest that Brazilian supporters were united in condemning him.

The appearance also does not represent an entirely new pastime for Neymar. Poker has long been one of his main interests away from football, and he has previously competed in professional events during breaks from club and international duty.

For now, the more significant uncertainty surrounds his football career. Neymar remains a Santos player, but his brief and injury-disrupted World Cup campaign, combined with his emotional comments after the Norway defeat, has raised serious questions over whether he will represent Brazil again.

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