On January 31, Neymar made a triumphant return to Santos FC following a year with Al-Hilal. Mere weeks later, on February 19, the football icon announced an exciting new venture, joining Brazil's premier esports organization, Furia. In his groundbreaking role as president of the media football team, Neymar is set to steer Furia through the upcoming season of the Kings League, a pioneering tournament that seamlessly merges traditional sports with the dynamic world of esports.

What Will Neymar Do?

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Neymar has expressed his enthusiasm for his new position at 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 initial responsibility will be to craft Furia's lineup for the upcoming draft. The Kings League adopts a unique 7v7 format, with each team comprising 13 players, of which 10 are chosen by the president from a shared pool of 222 players. A total of 10 teams will vie for supremacy in the league. In addition to recruitment, Neymar has the exciting chance to play in matches under the "president penalty" rule, allowing him to step onto the field during any game.

What Is Kings League?

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The Kings League, which debuted in Spain in 2022, was co-founded by Gerard Pique and renowned Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos, who commands a following of 17 million on Twitch. Ibai has previously worked with esports powerhouse G2 Esports and owned the notable Spanish team KOI.

Since its inception, the league has expanded to Italy and Central America, with past finals hosted at legendary venues like Camp Nou. The matches follow a 2x20-minute format and incorporate innovative features such as the "double goal" bonus, which doubles a team's next score for four minutes, and the ability to temporarily sideline an opponent for the same duration.

The Brazilian edition of the Kings League is scheduled to occur in São Paulo from March to April, featuring prominent clubs such as Fluxo and Loud, along with a team led by the popular streamer Gaules, whose streams have attracted over 500,000 concurrent viewers. The draft and presentation event will be broadcast live on February 24.

Neymar's Longstanding Connection to Furia

Neymar's affiliation with Furia dates back to the organization's ascent in 2019, when they secured a spot in a CS:GO Major – an event akin to a World Cup in the esports realm. He has consistently championed Furia, sharing their match highlights on social media and recording supportive videos during pivotal tournaments. One memorable moment saw him cheer on the team:

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, drawing parallels between the electrifying atmosphere and that of 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's dedication to Furia led him to attempt 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 engagement with the esports community extends well beyond Furia. He has participated in exhibition matches alongside Fallen, Brazil's most celebrated esports figure, and mingled with Ukrainian star player s1mple. Additionally, he shares a close bond with Furia CEO Andre Akkari, a professional poker player who carried the Olympic torch in 2016. Neymar often turns to Akkari for poker strategy advice, illustrating their strong personal connection:

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 at the helm and his deep passion for gaming, Furia is poised to make significant strides in the emerging landscape of media football and esports entertainment.