Neymar has hit back at criticism in Brazil after he missed Santos’ most recent match while taking part in a two-day poker tournament in Sao Paulo, days after the national team’s early exit from the 2026 World Cup.
The Brazil forward, who was granted several days off following the country’s elimination by Norway, did not feature for Santos in their last outing, a decision that sparked a wave of domestic debate over his commitment.
Brazil’s World Cup campaign under head coach Carlo Ancelotti ended earlier than expected with defeat to the Norwegians, and Neymar’s performances at the tournament have been heavily scrutinised. According to Spanish newspaper AS, the 32-year-old was accused by many commentators of failing to provide the expected impact and of appearing unmotivated about returning to club action.
The controversy intensified when it emerged that, during his period of rest, Neymar had taken part in a poker event in Sao Paulo that ran over two days and coincided with Santos’ fixture.
Neymar responds to critics
In a video posted on his official social media accounts from Santos’ training centre, Neymar addressed the criticism directly and defended his decision to play poker on his day off.
“I was here getting ready for the second training session, and I remembered that a lot of people talked about me playing poker on my day off,” he said.
“I trained in the morning, I didn’t play in the match, then I came back to training. It was my day off, and they are still talking about it. I’m getting ready to train. Can I train, or are you going to keep criticising me as well? Mind your own business.”
Neymar stressed that he had complied with his training schedule and insisted that his participation in the poker tournament did not interfere with his professional obligations.
Santos win without Neymar
Despite Neymar’s absence, Santos recorded an emphatic 4-1 victory over Universidad Central de Venezuela, putting the Brazilian club in a strong position to qualify for the next round of the Copa Sudamericana.
The comfortable win eased some of the immediate sporting pressure on the forward, even as the off-field debate over his lifestyle choices and focus on football continued.
Local reports indicate that there is growing expectation inside the club that Neymar will be available for selection this weekend, when Santos face Chapecoense in the Brazilian league.
The potential return would mark his first appearance since Brazil’s World Cup exit and offer an opportunity to shift attention back to his performances on the pitch rather than his activities away from it.
World Cup fallout continues
Neymar’s situation reflects the wider fallout from Brazil’s disappointing World Cup campaign, with both individual displays and Ancelotti’s decisions drawing intense media and fan scrutiny.
While the forward remains one of the most high-profile figures in Brazilian football, the criticism reported by AS over his World Cup displays and perceived lack of enthusiasm has fed into a broader national discussion about the direction of the Selecao and the responsibilities of its leading players.
For now, Santos’ supporters and Brazil watchers alike will be focused on whether Neymar features against Chapecoense on Saturday, and how he responds on the field after a week dominated by poker headlines and social media rebuttals.
