Jose Vitor Leme Wins 3rd PBR World Title

Jose Vitor Leme won his third PBR world title in historic fashion Sunday afternoon.

It may have been a record-tying third world title, but it was also a first for the veteran Monster Energy bull rider. In each of his two previous World Championship seasons (2020, 2021), Leme was the favorite to claim the coveted gold buckle and the $1million bonus. Never one to bet against, the 27-year-old staged the greatest come-from-behind title-runs in PBR history to drink for a third time from the Jerome Robinson Cup.

Leme arrived in Arlington on Saturday night likely needing to run the table—believing he needed four round wins and a World Finals average win for a chance at the title.

Well, all he wanted was a chance.

On Sunday afternoon, Leme became only the second rider to win three world finals event averages — tying former Monster Energy rider Robson Palermo — with his third consecutive round-win and a 0-for-3 performance from overall leader Dalton Kasel, to become only the third rider to win three world titles before he ever even climbed into the bucking chute for a final time in 2025. 

“I have no words to describe this moment, honestly,” said Leme, who was 18th in world standings at the onset of the World Finals and rode all the way to No.1 the past two weekends. After collecting his thoughts, Leme added, “I trusted in the process, and I think everything happens for a reason. … This is unbelievable for me. I didn’t expect that. I have no words, honestly.” 

For good measure, after being announced as the 2025 PBR World Champion, Leme capped off the historic comeback by splitting the round win with 91 points on Walk Hard. 

It was his 87th score of 90 or more points and the 90th round win of Leme’s career that led to his third title in six years — equaling Adriano Moraes and Silvano Alves — and more than $1.5 million earned in just the past 11 days. 

“This is a special moment in my life,” said Leme, whose voice was growing with emotion. “I want to thank my family for all the support—my beautiful wife, my son. Thanks to all my fans, everybody that has been motivating me since the beginning. … I had a chance to step up and do my job and that’s what I came for—ride my bulls, do my part, and let God work on the rest.”

It was a hell of an ending for a guy who missed 11 events with injuries, mostly recently a broken left riding hand, and seven weeks ago, he was ranked 31st in the world. 

Leme admitted, “I was out for so long; I thought I was done for the season.” “I just want people to remember that nothing is impossible,” Leme continued. “Even if you are all the way down, you can sit up, shake the dust, and keep riding, keep doing what you’re doing and trust in the process. 

“This is another dream come true for me,” he concluded.