Neymar has broken his silence following intense backlash over his decision to compete in a poker tournament while Santos played a crucial Copa Sudamericana tie. The 34-year-old superstar posted a cryptic social media response as he continues to recover from Brazil's shock World Cup exit and his subsequent retirement from international football.
Santos superstar Neymar was a notable absentee from the squad as Cuca's side secured a dominant victory in the Copa Sudamericana on Tuesday night. Rather than flying to Venezuela for the continental clash, the Brazilian icon was spotted competing in a professional poker tournament in Sao Paulo.
Brazilian forward Neymar is back on the training pitch with Santos, looking sharp and scoring goals in a recently shared video. The return to domestic action comes swiftly after a heartbreaking exit from the 2026 World Cup, which culminated in his emotional international retirement and intense scrutiny over how his fitness was managed during the tournament.
And just like that, it's over. After five-and-a-half weeks of breathless action, the 2026 World Cup is beginning to appear in the rearview mirror, the biggest international tournament in football history leaving behind a lifetime of memories while champions Spain continue their own celebrations.
There's no sporting event bigger than the World Cup. It's the pinnacle of professional football, where global superstars are born, dreams die and legends live forever. Sometimes, with just one goal, one pass, one tackle, one block or one save, a previously little-known player can become a national hero, a name eternally etched in the memory of a country's collective consciousness.