On the night when the world’s best footballers gathered for the prestigious 2025 Ballon d’Or, Brazilian soccer icon Neymar Jr. almost claimed a different kind of title. While his peers were vying for the highest individual football accolade, Neymar was battling it out for his first-ever major poker title at the PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP).
In an exhilarating poker showdown, Neymar found himself deep into the action of the $5,200 Titans NLHE event, making it to the final table in a field of 112 players. With his poker skills on full display, Neymar’s journey towards his first COOP title was nothing short of thrilling.
Also Read: Banned Players Can Appeal Reinstatement in GGPoker’s Olive Branch Initiative
Neymar Jr.’s Road to the Final Table
The journey to the final table wasn’t easy for Neymar. He entered the $5,200 Titans event as one of the shorter stacks, but this didn’t stop the poker-playing footballer. In fact, Neymar powered through adversity, steadily climbing the ranks, eliminating tough opponents along the way. By the time there were only 13 players remaining, Neymar had risen to the second-biggest stack, setting the stage for an intense battle.
Neymar’s deep run included encounters with some notable poker names, such as Daniel ‘starwins :)’ Petersen, Pascal ‘Pass_72’ Lefrancois, and Adrian ‘Amadi_017’ Mateos. But Neymar was on a mission – and he wasn’t going down without a fight.
Also Read: How Andy Wong is Leading Triton Poker to New Heights
Neymar Takes the Lead
As the field narrowed, Neymar’s momentum continued to build. He quickly surged past his competitors and found himself in a commanding position. By the time Adrian Mateos was eliminated in 13th place and Pascal Lefrancois fell in 8th, Neymar had seized the chip lead.
In a particularly thrilling moment, Neymar found himself holding onto a massive chip stack of 8 million, with only NotmystyIe and Nikita ‘Ebaaa11’ Kuznetcov left to challenge him. Despite having a considerable advantage, Neymar’s competitors were not going to give up easily.
Also Read: The Future of Poker: What Legal Changes Are Coming to the U.S.?
The Turning Point
In poker, no lead is ever secure, and Neymar’s run was soon to face its first major test. Despite his commanding position, Neymar faced a few setbacks that threatened his championship dream. A failed bluff on the river allowed NotmystyIe to recover chips, and an ill-timed double-up for Ebaaa11 drained some of Neymar’s momentum.
However, Neymar was resilient. He regrouped and found a nut flush to climb back to 7.5 million chips. But NotmystyIe wasn’t done yet. Using a pocket pair of eights, he turned the tide, and the battle for the WCOOP title intensified.
A Diamond Away from Victory
With only two players remaining, Neymar found himself just a diamond away from his first-ever WCOOP title. On a flop, Neymar held a strong hand with the Ace of Hearts and the Queen of Diamonds, but when the final card hit the board, it was the wrong one. Neymar went all-in, but his opponent NotmystyIe had Ace of Spades and Jack of Clubs, and it was a battle of the best hands. As Neymar waited for the river, the tension was palpable. The turn gave Neymar some additional outs, but the river card was a brick. The momentum swung in NotmystyIe’s favor, and moments later, Neymar’s dream of a WCOOP title was over.
Read On: Poker Economy in 2025: Growth, Trends, and What Players Should Know
The Final Hand and Result
In the final hand, the two players went all-in preflop. Neymar had Ace-Queen, and NotmystyIe held Ace-Jack. Neymar’s hand couldn’t hold up, and NotmystyIe claimed the victory, securing a top prize of $129,043, as well as his first-ever WCOOP title. Neymar, despite a valiant effort, had to settle for $99,075 as the runner-up. It was a hard-fought battle, and although Neymar didn’t win the title, he proved his poker prowess on the world’s biggest stage
A Runner-Up Finish, But No Glory for Neymar in Ballon d’Or
As Neymar’s poker dreams crashed in the final hand, the Ballon d’Or was also awarded to another player, Ousmane Dembele, who triumphed in the footballing world. Neymar’s double pursuit of glory ended in frustration, but his poker journey showcased his versatility and determination.
WCOOP Titans Event #73-H Results
- NotmystyIe (Canada) — $129,043 (Winner)
- Neymar Jr (Brazil) — $99,075 (Runner-Up)
- Ebaaa11 (Bosnia and Herzegovina) — $76,066
- Sxmon (Austria) — $58,401
- starwins 🙂 (Denmark) — $44,838
- I sense blood (Kazakhstan) — $34,425
- CatfishBillyMan (Mexico) — $26,430
- Pass_72 (Canada) — $20,292
- Mikensonas (Lithuania) — $16,971
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Did Neymar win any poker titles?
No, Neymar came close to winning his first major poker title in the WCOOP but finished as the runner-up. - How much did Neymar Jr. win in the WCOOP?
Neymar Jr. earned $99,075 for his second-place finish in the $5,200 Titans event. - Who won the WCOOP Titans event?
The event was won by NotmystyIe, who claimed the top prize of $129,043. - Did Neymar Jr. play poker professionally before?
Neymar is a PokerStars ambassador, and he has participated in major online poker tournaments, showcasing his skill and passion for the game. - Was Neymar competing for the Ballon d’Or in 2025?
Yes, Neymar was competing for the Ballon d’Or in 2025, but the award ultimately went to Ousmane Dembele.