5 Athletes Who Dominate the Poker Table
When Pro Athletes Take Their Competitive Edge to the Poker Table
Because Sports Weren’t Enough
Athletes and poker just seem to go hand in hand, don’t they? Maybe it’s the competitive nature of both worlds, but professional athletes just can’t seem to get enough of the game. Over the years, we’ve seen numerous sports stars try their luck—and skill—at the poker table. So today, we’re diving into five pro athletes who take their poker very, very seriously.
1. Neymar Jr.
First up, soccer superstar Neymar Jr. is an incredibly decorated athlete, but dominating on the field isn’t quite enough for him.
Neymar is currently playing poker with Jimmy Butler, Ryan Garcia, Dan Bilzerian & Ninja 😭
Ninja is currently streaming it on his Twitch. pic.twitter.com/HQYR55K8Ed
— Ginga Bonito 🇧🇷 (@GingaBonitoHub) June 23, 2024
Our Brazilian babe is obsessed with poker and has even said that once he retires from soccer, he’d love to pursue a career as a professional poker player. Neymar has competed in multiple in-person tournaments and even won over $250,000 playing a virtual casino game last year. Talk about dedication.
2. Michael Phelps
If you know anything about 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, it’s that he’s one of the most fiercely determined athletes in history. Phelps has often discussed how during his Olympic swimming career he would just “eat, sleep, swim, repeat” every single day because he “never wanted to feel the feeling of defeat.”
It looks like Carlos and Michael Phelps won the poker tournament in Las Vegas! pic.twitter.com/7CbQ4uxpkM
— yoyo (@williamssainz) November 28, 2024
Now, imagine taking that attitude to a poker table. Phelps has proven to be a savvy player over the years. In 2012, Phelps won over $100,000 at the cash casino Caesars Palace and just in 2023, he competed against DJ Khaled in a $10,000 charity heads-up match.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo
Perhaps the world’s most beloved soccer star (and the most-followed person on Instagram), Cristiano Ronaldo loves a good poker game. The soccer prodigy frequently plays with friends and fellow athletes in his downtime, but he’s not just a casual player.
Cristiano Ronaldo beat Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul in Poker as a part of PokerStars to win £15,000 for charity. pic.twitter.com/pVCIQqq5MX
— TheCristianoFan 🇵🇹 (@TheCristianoFan) August 31, 2016
Ronaldo has served as an ambassador for major poker brands and has made appearances at high-stakes events, often making casino news headlines. In 2016, he even defeated Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul in a charity tournament. The man knows his cards.
4. Alex Rodriguez
At this point, we’ve all heard of Molly’s Game, right? The high-stakes, underground, celebrity poker ring? Well, in addition to Tobey Maguire and Ben Affleck, A-Rod was allegedly part of the festivities. The former MLB star has also participated in other elite poker games, cementing his status as one of the top athlete poker players.
January 29th, 2005.
Jay-Z plays poker at the ‘Dewars 12 celebrity poker tournament’ to benefit the Boys and Girls Club hosted by New York Yankees all-star Alex Rodriguez in Coral Gables, Florida. pic.twitter.com/EddefDdCQi
— 𝑺-𝒊𝒛𝒛𝑯, 𝑶-𝒊𝒛𝒛𝑾 (@ShawnCarterShow) January 29, 2022
5. Allen Iverson
Of course, an athlete poker list wouldn’t be complete without an NBA legend. We know our basketball boys love a good poker game. Well, Allen Iverson, the Hall of Famer and one of the best scorers in NBA history, is also a huge poker player.
You sit down at the poker table and see the great Allen Iverson…what’s the first thing you say? pic.twitter.com/ggClmcgnYh
— Bovada Casino (@Bovada_Casino) December 24, 2022
He and Phil Ivey ended up competing in the 2021 WPT Spring Festival Main Event, proving that AI doesn’t just dominate on the court—he’s got skills at the poker table too. And for those who love the Allen Iverson stats, let’s just say his poker game is just as fearless as his crossover.
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