At the ESports World Cup in Riyadh, the realms of TEKKEN and football converged dramatically as Arslan Ash, the five-time EVO champion, met Brazilian football star Neymar Jr. backstage. This encounter occurred during the ongoing event, which features a range of celebrity and esports competitions.

In a social media update, Arslan expressed his excitement, saying, “Couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present than meeting @neymarjr! Thanks for making my day!” Neymar, a player for Saudi club Al Hilal, attended the event to participate in a celebrity showmatch aimed at promoting the tournament.

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Arslan is set to compete in the TEKKEN segment of the ESports World Cup, which begins today. Neymar, known for his passion for esports, is also a part owner of FURIA ESports, Brazil’s leading esports organization.

This meeting follows a recent milestone for Arslan, who, just two months prior, met Pakistani cricket star Babar Azam in Dallas.