Neymar Júnior

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, widely known as Neymar Jr., is a Brazilian professional footballer and avid recreational poker player. Born in Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil, he rose to international fame playing for Santos, FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Al-Hilal before returning to Santos in 2025. One of Brazil's most recognizable athletes, he helped his country win its first Olympic men's football gold medal in 2016.

Neymar's interest in poker began during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and he soon started playing regularly with friends and football teammates such as Gerard Piqué and Keylor Navas. His enthusiasm led to a friendship with Brazilian poker professional André Akkari, who, alongside Rafael Moraes, has helped him refine his strategy. Neymar's love of the game even inspired him to name one of his dogs "Poker."

In 2015, Neymar became a PokerStars ambassador, later rejoining the brand in 2020 and being named its Cultural Ambassador in 2021. He has played online under the screen names "neymar-jr" and "iamneymarjr" and has streamed poker on Twitch. While football remains his primary profession, he has publicly expressed ambitions to pursue professional poker after retiring. In June 2024, he also appeared on Hustler Casino Live alongside celebrities including Jimmy Butler and Ninja.

Beyond football and poker, Neymar is active in gaming, entertainment, philanthropy, and brand partnerships. He has streamed video games, collaborated with Fortnite, and supported numerous brands through NR Sports, his family's sports marketing company. Together with his family, he also founded the "Instituto Projeto Neymar Jr.", a charity that provides educational, sporting, and cultural opportunities to disadvantaged children and families in Brazil.