Neymar, the forward for PSG, has found himself in a dilemma due to his fondness for playing poker. While recovering from an ankle injury, the Brazilian started indulging in online gambling as a way to pass the time. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on his side, and he ended up losing $1 million. Neymar responded to the loss by fake crying on Twitch while the music from Titanic played in the background, demonstrating to his followers that he wasn’t too concerned. However, he has little reason to be too upset. Firstly, he is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, earning around $4 million per month. Second, his foray into online poker was part of the partnership agreement he has with an online casino Blaze.
Neymar’s Online Gambling Spree is a Part of a Blaze Deal
Blaze is an internet gambling company in Brazil that went online for the first time in 2018. Since then, its popularity has been growing consistently, but the management seems to believe now is the right time for Blaze to make a great leap forward. In order to take the business to a whole new level, the company decided to team up with some celebrities. One of those is PSG’s number 10, Neymar.
After the 2022 World Cup, Neymar inked a brand ambassador deal with Blaze, an online casino. As part of the partnership, the Brazilian superstar is tasked with leveraging his massive social media following – over 100 million combined followers on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook – to promote the brand. Neymar is also active on Twitch, a streaming platform where he showcases his online gambling exploits. While he did lose a staggering $1 million on one occasion, he has had success in poker in the past, including playing Texas Hold’em at the 2022 World Series of Poker. Although he didn’t make a significant impact in the tournament, just qualifying to play was an impressive feat. Plus, given his astronomical salary – roughly $4 million per month – losing $1 million likely didn’t cause him too much heartache.
Neymar’s Texas Hold’em Exploits
The Brazilian soccer star is known for his love for gambling, particularly card games like poker. Despite losing $1 million recently in an online poker game, he has shown considerable skill in his favorite variant, Texas Hold’em. This was demonstrated by his participation in the 53rd WSOP event held last year at Bally’s Las Vegas, where he competed in the $10,000 Limit Hold ‘Em Championship. Neymar even organized his own poker event called Neymar & Friends. Interestingly, he qualified for the WSOP at a preliminary PokerStars tournament in 2016 but had to cancel due to his responsibilities as captain of Brazil’s national team at the 2016 Summer Olympics held in his homeland.
Neymar Isn’t the Only Poker-Loving Soccer Player
Poker seems to be a favorite hobby of professional soccer players, particularly those playing at the top level. Cristiano Ronaldo, whom many still consider the GOAT, used to be PokerStars’ brand ambassador for years. Although he’s not as passionate about the game as Neymar, Ronaldo still had some good moments at the poker table. But those days are gone now that he’s moved to Saudi Arabia, a country where gambling remains illegal.
A player who’s got nothing stopping him from pursuing his gambling hobby is Gerard Pique. Shakira’s ex-husband has been a fan of poker for years, taking part in high-stakes tournaments since (at least) 2011. Probably the best moment in his poker career happened in 2019 when he won more than €350,000 after finishing second in a tournament held in his hometown of Barcelona.
While Pique’s poker accomplishments are admirable, they pale in contrast to Teddy Sheringham, the former England forward who is regarded as one of the most successful soccer players in the poker world. Sheringham has been playing poker for almost 30 years and has had some notable results in large tournaments. He finished 14th in a European WSOP tournament and even competed in the WSOP main event in 2012, placing 388th out of roughly 6,600 professional players.
Final Thoughts
Neymar’s recent $1 million loss in an online poker game was part of his cooperation agreement with Blaze, and given his status as one of the world’s highest-paid athletes, it’s unlikely to have a significant impact on him. Neymar’s skill in Texas Hold’em and participation in the World Series of Poker is a testament to his passion for the game. He’s not alone in his interest in poker, as professional soccer players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Gerard Pique also enjoy the game. Teddy Sheringham’s success in poker over the past 30 years makes him the most accomplished soccer player in the game.
Poker’s allure extends beyond professional soccer players, with poker being very popular amongst celebrities. Ben Affleck, Tobey Maguire, and Matt Damon are among the most famous celebrity poker players, and exclusive invitation-only tournaments are now held specifically for celebrities. The popularity of poker among high-profile sports stars and Hollywood icons alike is undeniable, and it’s clear that poker will continue to be a popular pastime for many years to come.
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