Neymar plays Sao Paulo poker tournament during Santos rest period

Neymar has taken advantage of a rare break from Santos’ packed fixture list to enter a local poker tournament in Sao Paulo – just days after his club’s emphatic Copa Sudamericana win in Venezuela.

The Brazil forward, who recently returned to Santos after the national team’s World Cup campaign, was excused from travelling for the 4-1 away victory over Venezuelan side Universidad Central in the play-off round for the last 16 of the Copa Sudamericana – South America’s equivalent of the Europa League.

Instead, images of the Santos captain competing at the card tables circulated widely on social media, sparking fresh debate over how elite footballers use their time off during intense seasons.

Neymar shares ‘life is a joke’ post

Neymar himself shared photos from the Sao Paulo poker event on his Instagram account, writing: “الحياة مزحة” – “life is a joke”.

A post shared by Neymar Jr (@neymarjr)

Despite the attention generated by his appearance, the 32-year-old did not progress far enough in the tournament to reach the prize-money stages, exiting before the cut for the top 27 players.

The forward is no stranger to the poker circuit. Last year he collected a $53,000 prize after finishing 29th in a similar event, underlining his long-standing interest in the game away from football.

Santos rest period and intense schedule

Neymar resumed daily training with Santos last Friday, having been granted time off following Brazil’s elimination from the World Cup.

His poker outing coincided with a short rest period for the rest of the Santos squad, who were given 24 hours off after a delayed return from Venezuela.

Head coach Cuca had opted not to take Neymar on the trip for the first leg against Universidad Central, preferring to spare him additional travel and minutes as Santos navigate a congested run of fixtures – four matches scheduled across 10 days.

Club media described the 4-1 win in Venezuela as an “important advantage” ahead of the decisive second leg in Brazil later this month.

Upcoming fixtures pile pressure on Santos

Santos now face a demanding sequence that could shape their season on multiple fronts.

They are due to meet Chapecoense on Saturday in the Brazilian league, before hosting Universidad Central in the second leg of their Copa Sudamericana play-off on 28 July.

Attention will then turn to the Copa do Brasil, where Santos are set to play Remo in the last 16 over two legs on 1 and 4 August.

Neymar has so far made 15 appearances across all competitions since rejoining the club, scoring six goals and providing two assists as he rebuilds form and fitness.

Relegation battle looms in Brazilian league

Despite their strong result in continental competition, Santos’ domestic position remains precarious.

The club sit 15th in the Brazilian league table with 21 points, just one point clear of the relegation zone. The coming matches are expected to be crucial in determining whether the team can pull clear of danger.

With Neymar’s every move under scrutiny – from his performances on the pitch to his appearances at the poker table – Santos will hope that the added spotlight translates into decisive contributions as they fight on league, cup and continental fronts.