Neymar becomes a cartoon and launches "Ney Ney" before the World Cup
Forward Neymar will gain his own animated character on social media on the eve of the 2026 World Cup. Named "Ney Ney", the cartoon version of the Brazilian team's number 10 debuts this Friday (29) with content aimed at the digital environment and focusing on video platforms and social networks.
The proposal is to transform the player's image into a kind of animated universe, with stories, sketches and publications in different languages. The character was developed by NR Sports, the company responsible for managing the athlete's image, in partnership with FlyMedia, a company specialized in creating digital influencers with artificial intelligence.
With more than 420 million followers on digital platforms, Neymar is one of the most popular athletes on the planet and frequently appears among the most followed athletes on the internet.
According to those responsible for the project, the objective is to keep the striker's image in the spotlight during the period leading up to the 2026 World Cup, expanding the player's reach to new audiences and content formats.
"We are building a project designed from the beginning to dialogue with global audiences, connecting sport, entertainment and technology on different platforms. Neymar Jr. is one of the most relevant personalities in the world, and transforming this cultural force into an animated universe expands the possibilities of interaction with fans and brands in an unprecedented way", said NR Sports in a statement released by the companies.
"This launch represents an important change in the digital media industry. Personalities no longer act simply as creators to become intellectual properties capable of generating continuous narratives, new content formats and licensing opportunities on a global scale", said CEO and co-founder of FlyMedia Victor Trindade.
The launch of "Ney Ney" comes at a time when the striker is returning to the Brazilian team. After dealing with injuries in recent seasons, Neymar was called up again and remains one of Brazil's main bets for the next World Cup.
Farewell at Maracanã and friendlies: understand CBF's strategies before the World Cup
Source: CNN