TALK about a missed payday.

Wolfsburg forward Max Kruse left a World Series Poker tournament with $110,000 of winnings, but left it in a taxi on the way home.

The 27-year-old had had bagged a hat-trick in a game against Hoffenheim the day before and continued his hot form on the poker table in Berlin.

Unfortunately for him, the striker left his hard-earned cash in a taxi and the police were unable to help.

But then another twist - Wolfsburg fined Kruse $38,000 for taking part in the tournament without permission from the club.

“You might be a private person as a footballer when you are in your bed,” said the club in a statement.

“At any other point, you are also an employee of the club.

Wolfsburg’s Max Kruse at the poker tournament. Source: Twitter

“We have explained to him what sort of behaviour we expect from our players. We can only hope that he has been taught a lesson and will change his behaviour.”

The striker knows how to score goals after netting nine in 33 appearances for the German club and proven he’s pretty good at card games, but it seems the subtleness of his poker face may need a bit more work.