Neymar Takes the Helm at 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 a groundbreaking move into the world of esports by joining forces with Brazil's premier esports organization, Furia. In his new capacity as president of the media football team, Neymar is set to lead Furia into the exciting arena of the Kings League, a pioneering gaming tournament that seamlessly integrates traditional sports with esports dynamics.

Table of Content ---

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?

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Neymar expressed his enthusiasm about his new role with Furia, highlighting his enduring 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 is to construct Furia's lineup for the upcoming draft. The Kings League employs a 7v7 format, with each team comprising 13 players. From a shared pool of 222 participants, Neymar will select 10 players. A total of 10 teams will vie for supremacy in the league. Beyond team assembly, Neymar can also participate in matches thanks to the "president penalty" rule, enabling him to take to 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 has amassed 17 million followers 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 to Italy and Central America, with past finals occurring at iconic venues like Camp Nou. Matches adhere to a 2x20-minute format and incorporate unique elements such as the "double goal" bonus, which doubles a team's next score for four minutes, or the ability to temporarily remove an opponent from play for the same duration.

The Brazilian edition of Kings League is scheduled to take place in São Paulo from March to April, featuring top clubs like Fluxo and Loud, along with a team led by the popular streamer Gaules, whose streams have attracted 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 fervent supporter of Furia since the team's ascent to prominence in 2019, when they qualified for a CS:GO Major – the esports equivalent of a World Cup. He frequently shared their match highlights on social media and recorded videos cheering them on during critical tournaments. In one notable moment, he celebrated their 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, likening 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 even 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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He has participated in exhibition matches with Fallen, Brazil's most celebrated esports figure, and socialized with the Ukrainian star player s1mple. Additionally, he maintains 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 significant strides in the burgeoning world of media football and esports entertainment.