As Morocco knocks Portugal out of the World Cup tournament in Qatar and Argentina's last-minute win, the entire world is following the renowned soccer tournament with held breaths. Some of the best soccer superstars on the field, like Cristiano Ronaldo, didn't perform as well as they could have on the field – but what about their performance off of it?
In the past few years, many international soccer pros expressed their interest in poker, and it seems as if they have tremendous potential in this arena as well! Who are those soccer savants who love to play poker as well? And do they have a future in the industry?
As the World Cup drama continues, let's take a look at some of the best poker players who happen to be professional athletes in our Everygame poker overview!
3 Soccer Pros Who Play Poker
When you think about it, there are many similarities between poker and soccer: both are competitive games that rely both on skill and luck, and most importantly – they require great observational abilities to analyze your opponent's moves.
Taking all that into account, there is no wonder why some soccer players can't stay away from the poker tables! So, which soccer stars also manage to score when playing poker?
Cristiano Ronaldo
The 37-year-old Portuguese superstar is used to winning. Throughout his career, he participated in more than a thousand games, scoring 819 goals in the process – which makes him one of the most successful soccer players out there.
But it seems as if Ronaldo's international career might come to a close, and fans wonder whether he is going to look for another game to play full-time. Over the years, the international superstar expressed his interest in poker, as he participated in multiple high-profile matches.
In 2015, Ronaldo became the face of a renowned online poker website, and only a year later he participated in two poker duels against Aaron Paul and Mireia Lalaguna Royo – and won. In an interview, Ronaldo said:" I started playing poker a few years ago, and I love the competition, strategy, and fun... Although football is my world, poker has always been my game."
While he has no recorded poker wins, it is clear 'Cr7' is well-versed in the secrets of the poker world. Who knows? We might see him at the poker tables sooner rather than later!
Gerard Piqué
The legendary 35-year-old Barcelona defender recently announced he is planning on hanging his cleats for good. But while it is clear Piqué is done with his tough career, he might still be interested in a different kind of game.
The Spanish soccer player made $668,155 in live earnings. His first recorded win was in 2011, as he participated in the European Poker Tour, but his greatest win took place in 2019, as he won €352,950 in an EPT event. Even though he hasn't been seen at any popular poker tournaments in recent years, it seems as if Piqué has a knack for poker. So, hopefully, we will read about Piqué participating in a poker tournament soon enough!
Neymar Jr.
The 32-year-old Brazilian soccer pro has had a highly prolific career so far. But apart from scoring goals for Paris Saint-Germain, he is also a pretty active member of the poker community.
Neymar first started playing poker in 2016, and slowly but surely, he made a name for himself. Apart from becoming a spokesperson for a prestigious poker brand, the renowned athlete managed to participate in multiple EPT and WSOP events, winning $32,131 in the process.
While his poker winnings are basically peanuts compared to his annual soccer earnings, there is no knowing how far he will go when it comes to playing poker – online or offline!
In Conclusion
Who is your favorite soccer\poker player of all time? Do you believe any of those professional sportsmen might have a promising poker career?