Footballers always struggle to think of what they’d do post-retirement. While some want to stay connected to the game in different roles, others choose entirely different lines. Case in point, we have Neymar, who has already decided to become a professional poker player once his football career comes to an end. 

“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,” Neymar has said in the past.

On Monday, he even made his debut at the World Series Of Pokers in Las Vegas. He earned a place in this prestigious tournament almost six years ago, after winning the PokerStars tournament, but was unable to show up due to because of his commitment to Brazil in Summer Olympics. 

At Vegas, the footballer had his eye on the winner bracelet but got eliminated on the first day itself. He was quite aggressive in the first few rounds, and was also involved in a thrilling duel with a veteran Kosei Ichinose, who has total earnings of $24,7308 from poker.

Neymar’s biggest win in this game came in 2015, when he won €17,810 after hitting an elusive royal flush in an online game.

Neymar, who has a fell in love with the game during the 2014 World Cup, as he found too many similarities between football and poker. He is thought to be a highly aggressive player in the circuit, and once revealed that his favourite hands are a pair of tens and Jack-Five.

“I make myself hard for my opponents to read, although I play too many hands. The first time I got a pet dog I named him ‘Poker’ as I love the game so much. Every time I sit down to play I aim to win – whether it is with friends, online or in a tournament,” said Neymar.

Featured Image Credit: @Neymar/Instagram