Neymar’s contract with online giant PokerStars may be finished but his passion for poker remains.
The Brazilian football superstar stopped by the 2017 World Series of Poker on Saturday with an enormous entourage to play some cards.
The renowned striker skipped the actual WSOP and went directly to the VIP King’s Casino cash game section where he was joined by Brazilian poker pros Andre Akkari and Felipe “Mojave” Ramos.
Organizers set up a special two-table Sit & Go so that Neymar could mix it up with his buddies.
Unfortunately for Neymar he was actually knocked out of the tournament early and left everyone else to battle for Brazilian supremacy.
No $10k Main Event Seat This Time
It’s not the first time that Neymar has made an appearance at the WSOP.
Felipe Ramos and Neymar.
Exactly one year ago Neymar played another special two-table Sit & Go at the WSOP and actually won the tournament to take down a $10,000 Main Event seat.
Neymar never actually played in the Main Event but there’s always this year.
That wasn’t Neymar’s first appearance either, however, as he showed in 2015 just to take in the atmosphere.
Neymar has a long-standing love of poker and regularly posts photos from his home games.
It’s what led PokerStars to sign him and fellow footballer Cristiano Ronaldo in 2015.
Earlier this year PokerStars ended its sponsorship agreements with Neymar and Ronaldo and ended up going in a different direction by signing comedian Kevin Hart and Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt.
WSOP a Magnet for World-Class Athletes
Neymar is just the latest in a long line of athletes to show some love for the WSOP. Earlier this year swimmer Michael Phelps played in the $10k Tag-Team event with Antonio Esfandiari, Jeff Gross and Brian Rast.
Neymar in Barcelona.
The NBA’s Paul Pierce has played the WSOP numerous times as has NHL goaltender Roberto Luongo.
In fact Neymar isn’t the only footballer to make an appearance at the WSOP this year. Earlier this week German striker Max Kruse played the $1,500 2-7 Lowball event.
It’s unclear if Neymar will be making any more appearances at the WSOP. Neymar still has some time before the La Liga starts again.
Neymar has been on somewhat of a California swing, taking in a couple Golden State Warriors games then making an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Neymar performed a trick shot on Kimmel where he kicked a soccer ball over Hollywood Boulevard and into a waiting soccer net.
After Kimmel, Neymar hopped on a private jet to Las Vegas to meet up with his poker friends.
Here’s a collection of photos of Neymar and friends in the private cash game area at the WSOP:
