Neymar responds to criticism: Brazilian star at the center of controversy due to poker

Neymar, the all-time top scorer for the Brazil national team, has responded for the first time to the criticism surrounding his recent behavior. The footballer's participation in a poker tournament while his club, Santos, was playing a crucial Copa Sudamericana match sparked sharp backlash from fans and experts. This is reported by Goal.com reports .

The 34-year-old forward posted a photo of himself at a poker table on his social media account, adding the brief caption: "Life is a joke." With this, Neymar showed that he ignores the negative comments directed at him and is content with his current situation. According to Goal.com, the player's actions caused a major stir within the Brazilian football community.

Club permission and coach's explanation

On the night Santos secured a 4-1 away victory against Venezuela's Universidad Central, Neymar was participating in a poker competition in São Paulo. While many deemed this disrespectful to the team, the club's management and coaching staff confirmed they were aware of the situation.

Head coach Cuca clarified Neymar's absence from the trip during the post-match press conference. According to him, the player was given time to recover his physical condition as he had not taken a vacation following the World Cup. The coach preferred to leave Neymar at the base to prepare for upcoming important matches rather than taking him on a long and exhausting trip.

End of international career and a new chapter

Neymar recently announced his retirement from the Brazil national team. This decision was made after the Seleção's unexpected 2-1 defeat to Norway in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. The legendary forward, who scored 80 goals in 130 appearances for the national team, now intends to focus entirely on his club commitments.

Currently, Neymar's contract with Santos runs until December. For the team, which sits in 15th place in the Brazilian Championship, Neymar's leadership and goals are vital. Fans are waiting for the star player to return to the pitch and lift the team out of the lower part of the league table.

Neymar is expected to feature this weekend in the Brasileirão match against Chapecoense. Having completed his physical recovery, the forward is set to bolster the team's attack and solidify their success in the Copa Sudamericana playoffs.