On January 31st, Neymar rejoined Santos FC after a year with Al-Hilal. Just weeks later, on February 19th, this football superstar joined forces with Brazil's leading esports organization, Furia, as president of their media football team. This exciting move positions Furia for the upcoming Kings League season, 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."
As president, his initial task is building Furia's Kings League roster. The league uses a 7v7 format with 13-player teams; 10 players are drafted from a pool of 222 participants, and 10 teams compete. Beyond recruitment, Neymar can participate in matches via the "president penalty" rule.
What Is Kings League?
Launched in Spain in 2022 by Gerard Piqué and streamer Ibai Llanos (17 million Twitch followers), the Kings League has expanded to Italy and Central America. Past finals were held at venues like Camp Nou. Matches are 2x20 minutes and feature unique elements like "double goal" bonuses and temporary player removals. The Brazilian edition runs in São Paulo from March to April, including teams like Fluxo, Loud, and a team led by streamer Gaules. The presentation and draft 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, praising their performances, for example: "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 attempted to acquire a stake in the organization years ago.
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 noteworthy; Neymar often consults Akkari on poker strategy.
With Neymar's leadership and passion, Furia is well-positioned for success in media football and esports.
