In an effort to increase their market share of Brazil and of sports fans worldwide, PokerStars has signed retired soccer superstar Ronaldo as a site representative.
The 36-year-old is widely considered to be one of the greatest soccer players of all time, having won two world championships and being named FIFA Player of the Year on three separate occasions. He also holds the record for most goals scored in the World Cup with 15.
The signing comes in advance of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, both of which will be hosted by Brazil.
Ronaldo, known by fans as “the phenomenon,” will now join other sports icons Rafa Nadal, Boris Becker, Fatima Moreira De Melo and Marcus Hellner as a member of PokerStars Team SportStars and Andre Akkari as a member of Team Brazil.
The popularity of poker in Brazil has exploded over the last few years, making it one of South America’s most frequented tournament destinations. The PokerStars Latin American Poker Tour has stopped in either Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo for three of the six seasons and Brazil even hosted the season four Grand Final.
Because casino gambling is illegal in Brazil, live tournaments must occur in poker associations. With no regulated live poker in the country outside of the occasional tour stop, nearly all poker played by Brazilians takes place online, making it one of the most viable markets in the world.
Other notable Brazilian pro poker players include Maria Mayrinck, Felipe Mojave, Nacho Barbero, Alexandre Gomes and Leo Fernandez.
