Neymar Leads Furia's Media Football Team

On January 31, Neymar made a triumphant return to Santos FC following a year with Al-Hilal. Just weeks later, on February 19, the football icon joined forces with Brazil's premier esports organization, Furia, stepping into the role of president of their media football team. In this new position, Neymar is set to lead Furia into the exciting arena of the Kings League, an innovative tournament that seamlessly blends traditional sports with the dynamic world of esports.

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's enthusiasm for joining Furia was palpable as he shared 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 immediate priority is to construct Furia's roster for the upcoming draft. The Kings League operates in a 7v7 format, with each team comprising 13 players. From these, Neymar will select 10 from a shared pool of 222 participants. A total of 10 teams will compete in the league. Moreover, Neymar has the unique opportunity to participate directly in matches through 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 by Gerard Pique and the renowned Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos, who commands a following of 17 million on Twitch, Kings League has rapidly grown in popularity. Ibai, with his previous collaborations with esports titan G2 Esports and ownership of the Spanish team KOI, has been instrumental in its success.

The league has expanded to Italy and Central America, with past finals held at prestigious venues like Camp Nou. The matches are structured in a 2x20-minute format and feature innovative elements such as the "double goal" bonus, which doubles a team's next score for four minutes, and the ability to temporarily remove an opponent from play for the same duration.

The Brazilian edition of Kings League will unfold in São Paulo from March to April, featuring top clubs like Fluxo and Loud, as well as a team led by the popular streamer Gaules, whose streams have 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's support for Furia dates back to their rise in 2019 when they qualified for a CS:GO Major, the esports equivalent of a World Cup. He has consistently shared highlights of their matches on social media and recorded videos cheering them on during pivotal tournaments. One particularly memorable moment saw him celebrate their achievements:

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 event's atmosphere and 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 ambition to become part of Furia was evident as he 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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Neymar has also engaged in exhibition matches with Fallen, Brazil's most celebrated esports figure, and has formed bonds with Ukrainian star player s1mple. He shares a close friendship with Furia CEO Andre Akkari, a professional poker player who carried the Olympic torch in 2016. Neymar often seeks Akkari's counsel on poker strategy, highlighting their strong relationship:

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 poised to make significant strides in the burgeoning world of media football and esports entertainment.