Brazilian soccer star Neymar Jr is back with online poker site PokerStars for a second sponsorship stint.
The Paris St Germaine striker, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest football talents ever, is mad about poker and, in his first stint with PokerStars, appeared on the European Poker Tour and the Brazil Series of Poker.
Neymar told the PokerStars site: “When I’m not playing football, I love playing cards. Competing with my friends is a huge passion of mine, I love the sense of community, the fun, and the unpredictable moments that can occur in any game. As a true poker fan, I am excited to start a new chapter with PokerStars. Together we’ll be creating moments for our community and fans all over the world.”
The news was obviously welcomed enthusiastically by Martin Nieri, the global director of brand and creative at PokerStars.
He said: “Neymar Jr is a true global superstar. But what underpins this partnership is his genuine love for poker. It’s about a shared passion for the game and the beautiful uncertainty at the heart of it. At PokerStars, we are constantly trying new things to bring new energy, excitement, and entertainment to our customers. Together with Neymar Jr we believe we can take this to the next level for the PokerStars community.”
PokerStars has a long history of cosying up with sporting legends. There was Ronaldo, the Cristiano version, and Ronaldo, the Brazilian version. Tennis superstars Rafa Nadal also signed up for a year or so. But with Neymar, there does appear to be a genuine passion for the game.
The poker site is yet to reveal what it has in store for their new commercial relationship with a poker-playing football superstar.
