When the World Cup’s biggest superstars are not chasing glory on the pitch, they are at home chasing after their dogs, just like any mundane pet owner.
It can be hard to relate to the soccer phenoms stealing headlines across the globe. The world’s best are otherworldly under the lights, committing a perfectly-timed tackle inside the box, pulling the strings of an attack from midfield or firing a lethal strike into the back of the net.
For 90 minutes, they are simply untouchable, so far from a normal human that it seems laughable. Yet in the quiet moments away from the pitch, when the best players in the world are taking their dogs for a walk on Merseyside or playing fetch in their backyard in Brazil, they suddenly are more relatable than ever.
Whether it’s helping their owners stay active, unwind or simply providing loyal companionship, dogs play a large role in the stories of World Cup stars, who are all gunning for the most prestigious trophy in the sport.
Check out the four-legged friends of six players competing in this summer’s showpiece event—and don’t blame us if you suddenly have the urge to adopt a dog afterward.
Neymar (Brazil)
Poker 🐶 pic.twitter.com/0ZAjI925xL
— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) January 10, 2015
Brazil icon Neymar is living the dream in more ways than one. Not only did the Barcelona legend get called up to represent the Seleção in this summer’s tournament, but he also has three gorgeous golden retrievers at home.
Neymar named his three furry best friends Poker, Truco and Flush. The Brazilian is a huge fan of poker, so much so that he’s been competing at events for the last decade in his spare time away from the pitch. It’s no surprise that he named two of his dogs Poker and Flush.
Truco, meanwhile, is named after a popular Brazilian card game, keeping on theme with just the slightest deviation.
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Spain midfield maestro Pedri is a relatively new dog owner. The Barcelona star took in an abandoned puppy back in 2024 and named him Nilo.
Pedri revealed he found the tiny ball of black fur in the garbage and rescued him, before officially adopting him. Over the last two years, Nilo has grown from a small, shy puppy to an energetic, medium-sized dog, who loves playing fetch in the Spaniard’s backyard.
Nilo is a mixed-breed, though his exact ancestry is unknown, given the circumstances of his early life. When Pedri found him, the pup was only one month old, but thanks to the midfielder, Nilo is now living his best life.
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