Even the microdrama world is catching World Cup fever.
In a eye-catching move, Brazilian football star Neymar Jr. has scored a strategic partnership with COL Group’s vertical entertainment platform, FlareFlow, a deal announced as the 2026 World Cup continues in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
The pact, which was unveiled to chime with the APOS conference in Bali, sees the creation of a 16-title, AI-powered live-action microdrama franchise featuring the global soccer icon. It is easily one of the largest deals between a sports star of Neymar’s reputation – he has a social media following of more than 220 million – and a microdrama company.
A first wave of six titles, including The Way Back to Glory, begin launching on June 19 and continue to drop through to June 22. The global distribution agreement will also see the slate launch in mainland China via Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), a lifestyle and content platform with more than 200 million daily users.
Produced using AI-powered live action production workflows, the Neymar titles will comprise a series of titles that feature the player. A synopsis of the first six are below. The remaining ten titles will roll out throughout the broader football season using an “event-driven release strategy designed to capture sustained global fan engagement.”
“This partnership represents a defining moment for the global entertainment ecosystem,” said James Wang, CEO of Flareflow. “Neymar is one of the most commercially magnetic athletes on the planet. Bringing his global star power together with our advanced AI creative workflows allows us to push the boundaries of storytelling at an unprecedented scale.
At Flareflow, we are focused on shaping the future of premium mobile content,” Wang added. “Together with COL Group, we are creating high-impact entertainment that moves faster and resonates deeper with modern audiences worldwide.”
“Unveiling this franchise marks the true dawn of our Vertical 2.0 strategy,” added Timothy Oh, General Manager of COL Group International and Flareflow Chief Marketing Officer. “We are expanding premium vertical storytelling far beyond its first wave into highly scalable genres like sports, timed perfectly to capture global attention during the World Cup season.
“Through our unique dual-distribution strategy across Flareflow and Xiaohongshu, we are bridging global audiences and reaching over 200 million daily active users in China,” Oh continued. “This event-driven rollout proves that mobile-first premium content is now a dominant force in the global media landscape.”
Neymar slate titles
The Way Back to Glory
After a devastating betrayal shatters his career, a fallen football prodigy battles pain, disgrace, and impossible odds for one final shot at redemption on the world’s biggest stage.
The Playboy System: Scoring the Goddesses
When Neymar mysteriously loses his football genius, he must complete a supernatural mission to win over five powerful women or lose his talent forever.
Soccer Star Kidnapped Into the Galaxy Cup: Score or Die!
Abducted in the middle of the World Cup final, Neymar is forced into a high-stakes intergalactic tournament where victory is humanity’s only chance for survival.
Fake Neymar, Real God
After waking sixty years in the future at his own funeral, Neymar must rebuild his shattered legacy and prove he is still football’s destined king.
Project to Legend: NEY 10
Left broken and disgraced after a brutal attack, Neymar awakens a mysterious power system that offers one impossible path back to football greatness.
The Limping Janitor Is the True World Football King
Dismissed as a crippled janitor, a fallen football legend secretly returns from the shadows to expose betrayal and reclaim the crown that was stolen from him.
