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.
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.
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 gives us more options for the upcoming games.”
Despite his evening at the poker table, Neymar has been putting in the work at the club’s training ground. He had recently shared a video on social media showing him scoring goals and looking sharp in training drills. The manager’s plan appears to be focused on ensuring Neymar is at 100 percent for the domestic campaign, where the club is currently struggling in 15th place in the league table.
Even without their talisman, Santos proved far too strong for Universidad Central, putting one foot firmly in the Copa Sudamericana round of 16. The Brazilian giants romped to a 4-1 victory in Venezuela, establishing a commanding cushion ahead of next week’s second leg at the Vila Belmiro. Should they finish the job, Ecuadorian giants Macara await in the next round.
When asked if his No. 10 would return for the upcoming league fixture, Cuca confirmed Neymar will be back in action against Chapecoense this Saturday. The decisive away win eases the pressure on their continental campaign, allowing the club to shift its entire focus back to domestic duties for the weekend.
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