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Santos superstar Neymar was noticeably absent from the squad as Cuca’s side cruised to a dominant victory in the Copa Sudamericana on Tuesday night. Instead of flying to Venezuela for the continental clash, the Brazilian icon was seen competing in a professional poker tournament in São Paulo.
There is a lot at stake at the poker table
While his Santos teammates battled on the court in Venezuela, Neymar was busy testing his luck and skill in the winter edition of the Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP). The forward, who has a documented passion for the card game, was captured in the Golden Room of the WTC Complex in Sao Paulo participating in the fourth stage of the national championship, according to reports ESPN Brazil. It is a familiar place for Santos’ hero; During his participation in the same tournament in 2025, Neymar pocketed R$ 53,500.
The timing of his appearance caught the attention of some fans, as it occurred a few hours before Santos began their crucial playoff tie. However, his presence at the event was not a case of AWOL. The club had already made the decision to move on from its star player to focus on a specific fitness program following his return from a disappointing World Cup campaign.
Cuca explains the absence of the superstar
Santos coach Cuca was quick to clarify the situation surrounding his star after the 4-1 victory over Universidad Central. The veteran coach insisted that the main objective of the decision to leave out Neymar was to guarantee him a full rest after his international commitment.
“As he was off for a few days and had no vacation, we decided to make him even stronger, training a lot so he could have a series of games,” Cuca explained after the game. “Now, in ten days, we are going to play four games. What advantage would there be in bringing him here? You already saw how hard and exhausting the trip is. He stayed there working, as always.” [Willian] Arao, Joao Schmidt and Igor Vinicius, and that gives us more options for the next games.”
Despite his evening at the poker table, Neymar has put in effort on the club’s training ground. He had recently shared a video on social media that showed him scoring goals and looking stylish in training drills. The manager’s plan appears to focus on ensuring Neymar is 100 percent fit for the domestic campaign, where the club is currently fighting for 15th place in the standings.
Successful night for Peixe
Even without their talisman, Santos proved too strong for Universidad Central, putting a firm foot in the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana. The Brazilian giants claimed a 4-1 victory in Venezuela, establishing a dominant cushion heading into next week’s second leg in Vila Belmiro. If they manage to complete the job, Ecuadorian giants Macará will wait in the next round.
When asked if his number 10 would return for the next league match, Cuca confirmed that Neymar will return to action against Chapecoense this Saturday. The decisive away victory eases the pressure on their continental campaign, allowing the club to refocus on their domestic duties over the weekend.
Life after international retirement
This period marks a significant transition for Neymar, who recently ended his legendary career with the Selecao. The striker announced his retirement from international football after Brazil’s surprising 2-1 defeat to Norway in the 2026 World Cup, an exit that left the player in tears. After scoring 80 goals in 130 appearances for his country, he stepped away from the world stage at MetLife Stadium.
Now that his international duties are a thing of the past, the focus for the rest of his career will be on his commitments with the Santos club. Peixe are desperate for their leadership and scoring ability to navigate a congested fixture list. If he can stay fit and replicate the excellent form shown in recent training sessions, his presence will be the deciding factor in Santos saving their season.
