Neymar Leads Furia's Media Football Team

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 an exciting new venture by joining Brazil's premier esports organization, Furia. In his groundbreaking role as president of the media football team, Neymar will steer Furia through the upcoming season of Kings League, a cutting-edge tournament that seamlessly integrates traditional sports with the dynamic world of esports.

What Will Neymar Do?

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Neymar's enthusiasm for his new role with Furia is palpable. He shared his thoughts on joining the team, highlighting his longstanding support:

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 the president, Neymar's initial responsibility is to construct Furia's roster for the upcoming draft. The Kings League follows a unique 7v7 format, with each team comprising 13 players. Of these, Neymar will select 10 from a shared pool of 222 participants. A total of 10 teams will vie for supremacy in the league. Beyond team selection, Neymar can also engage directly in matches thanks to the "president penalty" rule, which allows him to take the field at any time during a 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 a following of 17 million on Twitch. Ibai has previously worked with esports giant G2 Esports and owned the influential Spanish team KOI. Since its inception, the league has expanded to Italy and Central America, hosting finals at iconic venues like Camp Nou. The matches adhere to a 2x20-minute format and incorporate distinctive features such as the "double goal" bonus, which doubles a team's next score for four minutes, and the option to temporarily sideline an opponent for the same duration.

The Brazilian edition of Kings League will unfold in São Paulo from March to April, spotlighting top clubs like Fluxo and Loud, as well as a team led by the popular streamer Gaules, who has attracted over 500,000 concurrent viewers. The presentation and draft event is scheduled to be broadcast live on February 24.

Neymar's Longstanding Connection to Furia

Neymar has been a vocal advocate for Furia since the team's ascent in 2019 when they qualified for a CS:GO Major – a milestone akin to the World Cup in esports. He actively shared highlights of their matches on social media and recorded videos cheering them on during pivotal tournaments. One such moment saw him celebrating the team's prowess:

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, likening the fervor of the event 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's dedication to Furia extended to his efforts to acquire a stake in the organization. He pursued this for years, but Furia declined his offers. Now, with their official partnership, Neymar appears to have finally secured his desired involvement with the team after six years of negotiation.

Neymar's ties to esports extend beyond Furia

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Neymar's engagement with esports transcends his connection to Furia. He has participated in exhibition matches alongside Fallen, Brazil's most celebrated esports figure, and has socialized with the Ukrainian esports star s1mple. Furthermore, Neymar shares a close friendship with Furia CEO Andre Akkari, a professional poker player who carried the Olympic torch in 2016. Neymar frequently turns to Akkari for advice on poker strategy, demonstrating his respect for Akkari's expertise:

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.

Under Neymar's leadership and fueled by his passion for gaming, Furia is well-positioned to make significant strides in the evolving landscape of media football and esports entertainment.