Neymar, the world-famous footballer, recently stirred the pot, not on the pitch but rather at his daughter’s half-birthday bash. The Al-Hilal ace was caught on camera sneakily playing online poker amidst the celebration. The internet, of course, had some thoughts.
The 32-year-old was supposed to be celebrating his little princess, Mavie’s, six-month milestone. Instead, he was caught by sharp-eyed fans, engrossed in a virtual round of poker on his phone. Mavie, the adorable apple of Neymar’s eye, is his child with ex-partner Bruna Biancardi.
In the viral video captioned, “Six months of the most beautiful princess,” Neymar and Biancardi were seen cradling their little bundle of joy, who was comfortably perched on a table. Their celebration was occasionally interrupted by Neymar’s wandering focus, not towards a football game as one might expect, but surprisingly towards an online poker game.
However, fans had mixed reactions to Neymar’s poker antics, with one labelling him as ‘absolutely finished’.
this guy neymar is absolutely finished
bro is gambling on poker in the middle of his daughters birthday 😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/3bQ3MWrIty
— 🐢 (@KyKySZN) April 11, 2024
From Football Field to Poker Table: Neymar’s Post-Career Plans
Neymar’s love for poker is no secret. In fact, the footballer is so smitten by the game that he plans to swap his football boots for poker chips in the future.
“It’s true I plan to turn pro. I feel very comfortable playing poker and think I can play in major tournaments after my football career is over,” he said in an interview just before his move from PSG to Al Hilal.
“I began playing during the 2014 World Cup, and I have fallen in love with the game,” said Neymar. “My favourite hands are a pair of tens – after my shirt number – and Jack-Five.
“There are similarities between football and poker in the ways how you read your game and your opponent and choose when to attack.
“I used to play it a lot while with Barcelona, and we play often at PSG,” he added.
Neymar is currently out of action after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus injury in the left knee. The Brazilian ace will miss the remainder of the season and this Summer’s Copa America.