Neymar has responded to the backlash regarding his attendance at a poker tournament during Santos’ Copa Sudamericana match, urging critics to ‘mind their own business.’ He made a powerful statement upon his return to the pitch.
Event Context
The controversy sparked after Neymar was excluded from Santos’ roster for their Copa Sudamericana play-off against Universidad Central in Venezuela on Tuesday. Despite Santos securing a decisive 4-1 win, footage surfaced of their star player participating in the BSOP Winter poker tournament in São Paulo.
Earlier in the day, Neymar participated in regular training at Santos’ CT Rei Pelé before attending the poker event later. He returned to the tournament on Wednesday, coinciding with Santos granting him and the players returning from Venezuela a day off.
This move, however, did not quell the criticism aimed at him. Neymar later shared images from the tournament on Instagram with the caption, “Life is a joke,” and addressed the backlash through a social media video.
In his explanation, Neymar stated, “I worked in the morning, I didn’t go to the match, I returned to training. I was on a day off.” He cheekily questioned if his critics would disapprove of him training, concluding with a straightforward remark: “Mind your own business.”
It was also clarified by Cuca that Neymar’s absence from the trip was a decision made by the club, not a personal choice by the player.
Neymar made a notable return to action with Santos after Brazil’s World Cup campaign, scoring twice in a match against Chapecoense that ended in a 2-2 draw. He opened the scoring in the 35th minute and later converted a penalty to equalize after Chapecoense turned the game around.
This match came after the club dedicated several days to enhancing his fitness. Unfortunately for Neymar, he received his third yellow card of the Brazilian league season during the match against Chapecoense, leading to a suspension for the upcoming game against Athletico-PR on August 9.
Player Focus
Neymar did not miss the match to participate in poker. Instead, Santos head coach Cuca opted to rest the 34-year-old star, prioritizing his recovery in Brazil as part of a strategic physical training program following an injury-ridden period.
His first goal also served as a sharp rebuttal to the criticisms that surrounded him that week. During his celebration, Neymar mimicked the act of dealing cards, a clear nod to the poker-related backlash he faced. Video footage seemed to capture him sending a provocative message to his critics while celebrating.
At this moment, the poker controversy has elicited a signature bold reaction from Neymar—first showcased on social media and then with a performance that featured two goals and a card-dealing celebration on the field.
Team Analysis
Santos’ coach, Cuca, emphasized the necessity for Neymar to engage in further physical training after an extended absence from play. He noted that the challenging trip to Venezuela was of little value as the team prepares for a busy schedule of matches. ‘What benefit was there in bringing him here?’ Cuca remarked following the victory over Universidad Central, confirming Neymar’s continuation of training in Brazil. The initial plan was for Neymar to make his comeback against Chapecoense in the Brazilian Serie A on Saturday, which he accomplished in a remarkable manner.
