On January 31, Neymar made a triumphant return to Santos FC after spending a year with Al-Hilal. Just weeks later, on February 19, the football icon announced a groundbreaking move into the esports arena by joining Brazil's largest esports organization, Furia. In his new role as president of Furia's media football team, Neymar will spearhead the team's participation in the upcoming season of Kings League, a pioneering tournament that seamlessly blends traditional sports with the dynamic world of esports.
What Will Neymar Do?
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Neymar expressed his enthusiasm about his new venture with Furia, highlighting his long-standing support for the organization:
Anyone who follows me knows how much I've backed Furia since day one. Whenever my schedule allows, I'll be working closely with the team. I'm confident that the squad we assemble will consistently perform at a high level.
As president, Neymar's primary responsibility is to construct Furia's roster for the upcoming draft. The Kings League follows a 7v7 format, with each team comprising 13 players. Out of these, 10 are chosen by the president from a shared pool of 222 participants. A total of 10 teams will vie for glory in the league. Moreover, Neymar has the unique opportunity to participate in matches under the "president penalty" rule, enabling him to take the field during any game.
What Is Kings League?
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Launched in Spain in 2022, Kings League was co-founded by Gerard Pique and the renowned Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos, who commands an impressive following of 17 million on Twitch. Ibai's previous collaborations include working with esports giant G2 Esports and owning the prominent Spanish team KOI.
Since its inception, the league has expanded its reach to Italy and Central America, with past finals taking place at iconic venues such as Camp Nou. Matches in the Kings League follow a 2x20-minute format and feature distinctive elements like the "double goal" bonus, which doubles a team's next score for four minutes, and the ability to temporarily remove an opponent from play for the same duration.
The Brazilian edition of Kings League is scheduled to occur in São Paulo from March to April, featuring top clubs Fluxo and Loud, alongside a team led by the popular streamer Gaules, whose streams have garnered over 500,000 concurrent viewers. The presentation and draft event will be broadcast live on February 24.
Neymar's Longstanding Connection to Furia
Neymar has been a vocal advocate for Furia since the team's rise to prominence in 2019, when they qualified for a CS:GO Major, considered the esports equivalent of a World Cup. He regularly shared highlights of their matches on social media and recorded videos cheering them on during critical tournaments. During one memorable moment, he praised the team's performance:
Go Brazil! Go Furia! Today is hunting day for Art, headshots from Yuurih, and clutch moments from Kscerato!
In 2023, Neymar attended a CS:GO tournament in Rio de Janeiro, comparing the atmosphere to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar:
Good morning! I wasn't feeling the World Cup until I saw the crowd's reaction at the Major in Rio. What a celebration, what an atmosphere!
Neymar had previously attempted to acquire a stake in the organization:
For years, he tried to buy Furia or a share of it, negotiating and waving money around, but Furia declined. Now they've officially partnered, and I think Neymar finally got his piece of Furia. He's been trying for six years.
Neymar's ties to esports extend beyond Furia
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Neymar's involvement in esports extends beyond his affiliation with Furia. He has participated in exhibition matches alongside Fallen, Brazil's most celebrated esports figure, and has socialized with the Ukrainian star player s1mple. Additionally, he shares a close friendship with Furia CEO Andre Akkari, a professional poker player who carried the Olympic torch in 2016. Neymar often seeks Akkari's advice on poker strategy:
He's incredibly smart. Every day, he asks me about hands and techniques. He sends me WhatsApp messages with hands from his home games, asking how I'd play them in a World Series or EPT setting.
With Neymar's leadership and passion for gaming, Furia is well-positioned to make a significant impact in the burgeoning world of media football and esports entertainment.
