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 São Paulo.
High stakes at the poker table
While his Santos teammates were battling on the pitch in Venezuela, Neymar was busy testing his luck and skill at the Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP) Winter edition. The forward, who has a well-documented passion for the card game, was spotted at the Golden Hall of the WTC Complex in Sao Paulo participating in the fourth stage of the national championship, according to ESPN Brazil. It is a familiar haunt for the Santos hero; during his participation in the same tournament in 2025, Neymar pocketed R$53,500.
The timing of his appearance raised eyebrows among some supporters, as it occurred just hours before Santos kicked off their crucial playoff tie. However, his presence at the event was not a case of going AWOL. The club had already made the decision to leave their marquee player behind to focus on a specific fitness programme following his return from a disappointing World Cup campaign.
Cuca explains the superstar’s absence
Santos manager Cuca was quick to clarify the situation surrounding his star man after the 4-1 victory over Universidad Central. The veteran coach insisted that the decision to leave Neymar out was primarily aimed at ensuring he was fully rested following his international commitment.
“Since he was sidelined for a few days and didn’t have a holiday, we decided to let him get even stronger, training hard so he could have a run of games,” Cuca explained after the match. “Now, in ten days, we’re going to play four matches. What advantage would it be to bring him here? You saw how hard and exhausting the trip is. He stayed there working, just like [Willian] Arao, Joao Schmidt, and Igor Vinicius, and that provides us extra choices for the upcoming video games.”
Regardless of his night on the poker desk, Neymar has been placing within the work on the membership’s coaching floor. He had recently shared a video on social media displaying him scoring objectives and looking out sharp in coaching drills. The supervisor’s plan seems to be centered on guaranteeing Neymar is at 100% for the home marketing campaign, the place the membership is at present struggling in fifteenth place within the league desk.
Profitable evening for the Peixe
Even with out their talisman, Santos proved far too sturdy for Universidad Central, placing one foot firmly within the Copa Sudamericana spherical of 16. The Brazilian giants romped to a 4-1 victory in Venezuela, establishing a commanding cushion forward of subsequent week’s second leg on the Vila Belmiro. Ought to they end the job, Ecuadorian giants Macara await within the subsequent spherical.
When requested if his No. 10 would return for the upcoming league fixture, Cuca confirmed Neymar shall be again in motion in opposition to Chapecoense this Saturday. The decisive away win eases the strain on their continental marketing campaign, permitting the membership to shift its complete focus again to home duties for the weekend.
Life after worldwide retirement
This era marks a major transition for Neymar, who lately called time on his legendary career with the Selecao. The ahead introduced his retirement from worldwide soccer following Brazil’s shock 2-1 loss to Norway on the 2026 World Cup, an exit that left the participant in tears. Having scored 80 objectives in 130 appearances for his nation, he stepped away from the world stage on the MetLife Stadium.
Together with his worldwide duties now a factor of the previous, the main target for the rest of his profession is firmly on his membership commitments with Santos. The Peixe are determined for his management and goal-scoring prowess to navigate a congested fixture record. If he can keep match and replicate the sharp type proven in latest coaching periods, his presence would be the deciding consider whether or not Santos can salvage their season.
