Neymar Leads Furia's Esports Football Team

Neymar's return to Santos FC in January 2023 was short-lived. Just weeks later, on February 19th, he made a significant move into the world of esports, joining forces with Brazil's leading esports organization, Furia, as president of their media football team. This exciting new chapter sees Neymar leading Furia into the upcoming season of Kings League, a unique gaming tournament blending traditional sports and esports.

Table of Contents

• What Will Neymar Do?
• What Is Kings League?
• Neymar's Longstanding Connection to Furia
• Neymar's Ties to Esports Extend Beyond Furia

What Will Neymar Do?

Neymar expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "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."

His immediate priority is building Furia's Kings League roster. The league operates on a 7v7 format with 13-player teams. Ten players are drafted from a pool of 222 participants, and Neymar, as president, will select Furia's ten. Ten teams compete in total. Furthermore, the "president penalty" rule allows Neymar to participate in matches.

What Is Kings League?

Launched in Spain in 2022 by Gerard Piqué and streamer Ibai Llanos (17 million Twitch followers), Kings League has expanded to Italy and Central America. Past finals have been held at venues like Camp Nou. Matches are 2x20 minutes and feature unique elements such as "double goal" bonuses and temporary player removals. The Brazilian edition, running from March to April in São Paulo, includes teams like Fluxo, Loud, and a team led by streamer Gaules. The presentation and draft will air live on February 24th.

Neymar's Longstanding Connection to Furia

Neymar's support for Furia dates back to 2019, when they qualified for a CS:GO Major. He frequently shared their highlights on social media and celebrated their victories. He once praised their performance, saying, "Go Brazil! Go Furia! Today is hunting day for Art, headshots from Yuurih, and clutch moments from Kscerato!" In 2023, he attended a Rio de Janeiro CS:GO tournament, comparing the atmosphere to the FIFA World Cup. He even previously attempted to acquire a stake in the organization.

Neymar's Ties to Esports Extend Beyond Furia

Neymar has played exhibition matches with Fallen and interacted with s1mple. His close friendship with Furia CEO Andre Akkari (a professional poker player and 2016 Olympic torchbearer) is well-known; Neymar often seeks Akkari's poker advice. Akkari notes, "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, Furia is well-positioned for success in the growing media football and esports landscape.