Brazilian football superstar Neymar Jr. has taken on a new challenge by taking part in an exhibition match on the esports scene. On August 10, the Al Hilal forward faced off against professional Counter Strike: Global Offensive players at an event organized by the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
After this unusual experience for him, Neymar wanted to compare the sensations felt on the football field and on the esports scene: “On the field, you have the impression that the public is further away, but here everyone watches your every move closely. I enjoyed this experience, but it was really difficult. You have to take your hat off to the real pros!” Indeed, playing in front of a full house and under the eyes of millions of spectators connected live requires nerves of steel.
🗣️ | Após jogar um showmatch ao lado de @FalleNCS, @neymarjr comparou a sensação de jogar CS em um palco com o futebol: "No campo, parece que as pessoas estão mais distantes, mas aqui todos observam cada movimento de perto. Gostei da experiência, mas é muito difícil. Tenho que… pic.twitter.com/BEo0kXXCVW
— DRAFT5.GG 🇧🇷 (@DRAFT5gg) August 20, 2024
READ MORE
++ Neymar steals the show at Riyadh’s Esports World Cup
++ Neymar’s possible return to Barcelona stirs up social networks
++ Will Neymar be called up for Brazil’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers?
For the famous Brazilian striker, accustomed to very high-level matches, the experience was just as stressful as a championship match. He was able to measure the psychological pressure suffered by high-level esports players, constantly observed and judged. Neymar wanted to pay tribute to them for their ability to perform in these conditions.
This exceptional participation in a major esports event also aimed to promote and democratize this environment among the general public. The presence of Neymar, a football icon and world star, draws media attention to the Esports World Cup and its challenges. This Saudi event, with a record prize pool of $60 million, aims to make esports a global leisure activity, like football.
Jogar um joguinho pra relaxar 🤦🏽♂️ Cs2 help us @CounterStrike @valvesoftware #hack pic.twitter.com/fLjzyV93ys
— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) August 2, 2024
