Atlanta United today announced it has re-signed esports player Paulo Neto to represent the club in eMLS and global EA SPORTS FC competitions for 2024 and 2025. This upcoming season will mark Neto’s fifth as the club’s esports athlete. Perficient also returns as the club’s Official Gaming Partner.
“Paulo assembled yet another outstanding season last year and continues to elevate our profile in the eSports community,” said Skate Noftsinger, Chief Business Officer of Atlanta United. “He has been one of the strongest and most consistent eMLS players for the last two seasons, which has opened more opportunities to showcase his skills at international competitions. Paulo has been key to expanding our brand to a global audience, and we’re excited he’s chosen to return to the club for the next two seasons.”
Details about the upcoming eMLS season will be revealed later.
Neto returns after a highly successful 2023 campaign where he won a pair of trophies. He opened the season winning the eMLS League Series 1, marking back-to-back eMLS titles after he won eMLS Cup in 2022. Neto followed that performance by winning eMLS League Series 2, becoming just the third three-time eMLS trophy winner and the first to capture trophies in two different seasons.
The Brazilian again reached the eMLS Cup Final in 2023, but fell short over the two legs to St. Louis CITY’s NR7. However, Neto’s deep run earned him a berth in both the FIFAe World Cup and the Global Series Playoffs. He made his fourth appearance in the FIFAe World Cup and was the only eMLS representative in the competition which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Neto also reached the semifinals of the biggest South American showcase, the CONMEBOL eLibertadores. Internationally, Neto became a World Champion when he and the Brazil eNational Team dominated the FIFAe Nations Cup, also in Riyadh, after beating the Netherlands in the final.
Atlanta United opens the MLS Regular Season when it travels to face Columbus Crew Feb. 24 at Lower.com Field (2 p.m., MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 92.9 The Game, La Mejor). All Atlanta United matches are available with an MLS Season Pass subscription, located on the Apple TV app.
