Neymar Jr: From Football Pitch to Poker Felt – The €1 Million Loss That Made Headlines

Think footballers just kick balls around? In March 2023, Neymar Jr. lost €1 million playing online poker in under an hour — all while livestreaming to thousands of viewers Goal.com. His reaction? Fake crying while friends played the Titanic theme song. But here’s the thing: that viral moment is just one chapter in a story that includes $360,000 wins, WSOP debuts, and a passion so intense he named his dog “Poker.”

I’ll show you exactly how one of the world’s highest-paid athletes turned poker from a hobby into a serious pursuit, what actually happened during that million-euro meltdown, and why his story reveals truths about high-stakes gambling that most people never see. Everything backed by tournament records, livestream footage, and insider accounts from people who’ve sat across the table from him.

How a Football Superstar Became PokerStars’ Most Famous Ambassador

In May 2015, Neymar joined PokerStars as a brand ambassador alongside another Brazilian football legend, Ronaldo Pokernews. At the time, he was 23 years old and showcasing his skills at Barcelona. This wasn’t some superficial sponsorship deal where he’d show up once for a photo op.

Neymar approached poker the way he approached football — with competitive intensity and a genuine desire to master the game.

“Growing up and playing football everyday has made me a competitive person,” Neymar explained. “When I’m not playing football, playing poker and competing against my teammates on the road or in home games with friends is one of my favorite things to do.”

The Dog Named “Poker” (Yes, Really)

Neymar’s obsession with poker runs so deep that he actually named his dog “Poker” Pokernews. Think about that for a second. You don’t name your pet after a casual hobby. You name it after something that matters to you.

This detail tells you everything about how seriously he takes the game. While other celebrities treat poker as entertainment or a publicity stunt, Neymar treats it as a legitimate second passion alongside football.

The €1 Million Loss: What Actually Happened (And Why Everyone Got It Wrong)

March 29, 2023. Neymar was recovering from an ankle injury, stuck on the sidelines with no football to play. So he did what he often does during downtime — he fired up an online session and started streaming on Twitch.

What happened next became one of the most viral poker moments of the year.

The PSG star lost approximately €1 million in a session that lasted roughly one hour, with the entire catastrophe captured on livestream Goal.com. Friends watching could be heard saying he went “from a million to zero in 60 minutes.”

But here’s where it gets interesting.

Multiple sources suggest this might have been partially or entirely funded by the casino/betting site he was promoting. Some poker analysts believe it was a marketing stunt designed to go viral — which it absolutely did.

The video shows Neymar with a smile on his face even while fake-crying. He joked afterward: “I’m going to put this on YouTube.” That’s not the reaction of someone who just lost a million euros of their own money in genuine gambling.

The Math That Makes People Skeptical

Let’s do some quick math. Neymar’s reported monthly salary at PSG was €3,675,000 GiveMeSport. That’s before sponsorships and endorsements.

Losing €1 million in an hour represents:

About 27% of one month’s salary
Less than 0.5% of his estimated net worth
The equivalent of an average person losing $50-$100

For context, that’s like you or me losing the cost of dinner. The “shock value” is manufactured for viewers who don’t understand the scale of wealth we’re talking about.

But whether it was real money or promotional funding, the incident revealed something important: Neymar plays at stakes that would terrify most professional poker players.

The $360,000 Win Against Alan Keating: When Luck Becomes Legend

Fast forward to June 2024. Hustler Casino Live’s “Legends on the Felt” event. The lineup included Neymar, NBA star Jimmy Butler, Twitch legend Ninja, boxers Ryan Garcia and Chris Eubank Jr., and social media personality Dan Bilzerian.

Then came the hand that turned Neymar into a poker legend.

The Hand That Broke Alan Keating

Neymar held 9♣5♥ against Alan Keating’s A♦4♦ in what started as a standard pot but escalated into one of the most dramatic hands in livestreamed poker history Pokernews.

After the initial action settled, both players chopped the pot. But Keating, known for his love of gambling action, offered Neymar a proposition: let’s run the river again for $50,000.

Neymar won. Then they did it again. And again. And again.

The final tally: Neymar won seven consecutive river runs, raking in nearly $360,000 from Keating’s stack in a matter of minutes Pokernews. Commentator Christian Soto exclaimed: “Neymar is the flip god! He stacked Keating in flips!”

This wasn’t skill. This was pure variance — the poker gods smiling on a Brazilian footballer while a seasoned poker enthusiast watched his stack evaporate.

But here’s what separates Neymar from casual celebrity players: he had the nerve to keep accepting the bets. Many players would have stopped after the first or second win, afraid of giving the money back. Neymar kept pressing.

WSOP 2022: When Neymar Joined Poker’s Biggest Stage

In June 2022, Neymar made his World Series of Poker debut by entering Event #26: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship at the Paris Las Vegas Casino Pokernews. This wasn’t some celebrity charity event — this was a real WSOP bracelet tournament with serious players.

His first attempt didn’t go well. He was eliminated on Day 1, playing what observers described as “extremely active” poker — entering lots of pots with marginal hands.

But Neymar came back.

Less than a week later, he entered Event #41: $1,000 Super Turbo Bounty No-Limit Hold’em and finished 49th out of 2,227 entries, earning his first-ever WSOP cash of $3,959 Pokernews.

The Security Incident Nobody Talks About

Here’s a detail that reveals how seriously Neymar takes poker: When the money bubble burst and tournament staff asked players to remain in their seats while they verified the field, Neymar was standing on the rail celebrating with friends.

Security, not recognizing him immediately, tried to kick him out for violating tournament protocols. This is one of the most famous athletes on the planet, and he was so focused on poker that he got mistaken for a random spectator causing problems.

That’s dedication.

How Good Is Neymar at Poker? (The Honest Assessment)

Let’s be real about Neymar’s skill level. He’s not a professional-caliber player. He’s not going to win a WSOP Main Event or dominate high-stakes cash games against pros.

But he’s significantly better than most celebrity amateur players.

What the pros say:

Multiple professional players who’ve played with Neymar describe him as:

Competitive and focused at the table
Willing to study and improve
Strategic rather than reckless
Better than his results might suggest

Thomas Eychenne, a professional player, described Neymar’s style as “introverted” and “solid,” noting that he lacks the skills to compete with the absolute best but has the resources and ability to improve.

His actual results:

Achievement	Details	Year
Biggest Tournament Cash	$125,678 (3rd place, PokerStars High Roller)	2022
WSOP Cash	$3,959 (49th/2,227 entries)	2022
Biggest Single Session Win	$306,000 (vs. Alan Keating)	2024
Notable Loss	€1,000,000 (livestreamed session)	2023

The pattern is clear: Neymar can compete in mid-stakes tournaments and hold his own in cash games against non-professionals. Put him in a room full of top pros, and he’s outmatched. Put him in a game with wealthy businessmen and other celebrities, and he can win.

The Real Reason Neymar Plays: It’s Not About the Money

Here’s what most people miss about Neymar’s poker obsession.

For someone earning over €3.5 million per month, poker winnings are meaningless from a financial perspective. Winning $360,000 is nice, but it doesn’t change his life. Losing €1 million is annoying, but it doesn’t hurt him.

So why does he play?

The competitive fix.

Think about what it’s like to be Neymar. You’re one of the best footballers on Earth. You’ve won nearly everything. You’re surrounded by yes-men and people who treat you like royalty.

Poker is one of the few places where:

Your football skills don’t matter
Money can’t directly buy victory
You can lose to anyone on any given day
Excellence requires actual study and skill

It’s intellectually stimulating in a way that most of his life isn’t. It’s a challenge that can’t be solved by running faster or having better footwork.

Professional poker player Andre Akkari, who’s become friends with Neymar through PokerStars, described him as constantly wanting to learn and improve. “Every conversation we have, I learn from them,” Neymar said about Akkari and fellow pro Rafael Moraes. “So, I’m very proud to have two giant players in the poker world being my friends and having free lessons, right?”

The Controversial Moments: When Poker Interfered With Football

Not everyone loves Neymar’s poker obsession.

In 2018, Neymar was revealed to be playing poker while his PSG teammates were busy wrapping up the Ligue 1 title Besoccer. To be fair, he was recovering from surgery on a fractured metatarsal at the time and immediately congratulated his teammates after the match.

But it created controversy. PSG manager Christophe Galtier publicly addressed it: “I told him what I thought, the conversation remains between us. He’s got a right on his days off. He likes to play and he’s got the right to do so.”

There’s always been tension between Neymar’s poker passion and his football commitments. When you’re paid millions to perform on the pitch, staying up late playing poker isn’t ideal preparation.

But here’s the counterargument: many athletes have hobbies. Some play video games. Some party. Some collect cars. Neymar plays poker — which at least requires mental discipline and strategic thinking.

What You Can Learn From Neymar’s Poker Journey

Whether you’re a casual player or aspiring serious amateur, there are legitimate lessons in Neymar’s approach:

✅ Invest in education Neymar didn’t just jump into high-stakes games. He got coaching from professionals like Andre Akkari and Rafael Moraes. He studies. He asks questions.

✅ Play within your bankroll For Neymar, losing a million euros doesn’t destroy him financially. He can afford the variance. Most players can’t. Know your limits.

✅ Embrace competition Neymar doesn’t shy away from tough spots or strong opponents. He enters WSOP events knowing he’ll face professionals.

✅ Control tilt When Neymar lost that million euros, he laughed it off. He didn’t spiral. He didn’t chase losses desperately. That emotional control is crucial.

❌ Don’t play when you should be working If poker starts interfering with your primary responsibilities (like it occasionally has with Neymar’s football), it’s a problem. Hobby shouldn’t become obsession.

The €1 Million Question: Was It Real or Marketing?

Let’s address the elephant in the room.

Many poker analysts believe Neymar’s €1 million loss was either:

Funded entirely by the casino/betting site for promotional purposes
Partially funded with Neymar risking some of his own money
Real money but played up for dramatic effect

Evidence supporting the marketing theory:

The perfect timing (he was injured and generating headlines)
The theatrical reaction (fake crying, friends playing Titanic music)
The immediate virality (millions of views within hours)
His joking demeanor (“I’m putting this on YouTube”)

Evidence supporting it being partly real:

Neymar genuinely streams poker regularly
He’s known to play high stakes
The emotional beats felt authentic beneath the theatrics
No official statement from Neymar or the site denying it

My take? Probably somewhere in the middle. The casino likely funded most or all of it, Neymar knew the cameras were rolling, and everyone involved understood this would go viral. But that doesn’t mean the experience wasn’t real or that Neymar doesn’t genuinely love poker.

Where Neymar Goes From Here

Neymar has openly stated he wants to pursue professional poker after his football career ends. Is that realistic?

Challenges he’d face:

He’d need to drastically improve his technical game
Professional grinders play 60+ hours per week
His celebrity status would make anonymity impossible
Variance would be mentally challenging even for someone wealthy

Advantages he has:

Unlimited bankroll for learning
Access to top coaches
Competitive drive that separates winners from losers
Genuine passion for the game

Realistically? Neymar will probably continue being a high-level amateur who occasionally deep-runs tournaments and wins big cash game sessions. He’ll remain a PokerStars ambassador. He’ll play in big televised events.

But becoming a legitimate professional who grinds for a living? That’s unlikely. Why would he? He has nothing to prove financially and a comfortable life already.

The beauty of Neymar’s poker journey isn’t about becoming the best. It’s about loving something enough to pursue it seriously even when you don’t need to.

For more information about responsible gambling and poker strategy fundamentals, resources like PokerStars’ learning center offer comprehensive guides for players at all levels.

Neymar’s poker story isn’t really about winning or losing millions. It’s about what happens when someone with unlimited resources pursues a passion purely for the challenge. Sometimes they lose €1 million in an hour. Sometimes they stack Alan Keating for $360,000. But they always come back to the table.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. High-stakes gambling involves significant risk. Always gamble responsibly and within your means.