Brazil's Unquestioned Star? Neymar Jr's Global Tournament Race Against Time
While Ousmane Dembele claimed the 2025 Ballon d'Or in late September, Neymar was undergoing therapy for his third injury of the year - while participating in an online poker tournament.
The veteran football star ultimately finished as second place, securing around £73,800 in prize money.
It was partial comfort on a day when he had to observe the player who previously succeeded him at Barcelona claim the award he had long hoped to win.
After returning to his boyhood club Santos in the new year, the experienced attacker has fallen short of expectations, drawing more attention for similar incidents than for his football.
His return home after a dozen campaigns away was intended as a chance for him to regain his form and, crucially, rekindle a passion for the game that seemed diminished after frustrating spells with Paris St-Germain and Al Hilal.
Instead, it has been largely underwhelming for each stakeholder.
This reflects the situation that the key issue being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will be part of the 2026 World Cup.
He's facing a deadline.
"All players have to prove that they are prepared. The time is passing [for him]," 1970 World Cup-winner Tostao commented in his newspaper column.
On Wednesday, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti announced his squad for the upcoming games against Korea Republic and Japan and, yet again, Neymar was not in it.
"The Prince", as he was dubbed when received at Santos in a reference to the king Pele, is still awaiting his debut under Ancelotti, having been absent from the national team for 24 months.
He also remains an injury doubt for the November games, which, in the most pessimistic outlook, will leave him with just a pair of exhibition games in spring 2026 to prove himself to Ancelotti before the revealing of the final list for the World Cup.
"Over a decade and a half, Neymar was Brazil's undisputed star, bearing massive pressure on his own," former AC Milan and Roma legend Cafu said.
"But nobody wins the World Cup single-handedly. Putting all our expectations on him at the present time is difficult because he has difficulty to even play multiple matches in a row."
'If Neymar is left out for technical reasons, something isn't right'
Not only has Neymar had repeated injury problems since his return to Brazil - he's been absent for 47% of Santos' matches this season - but, when he was available for selection, he was a distant from the player who during his peak rivaled the Argentine maestro and the Portuguese icon.
Of his nine goal contributions so far, half have come against teams from divisions below Brazil's top flight - a goal and assist against a lower-league side, followed by a three goal involvements versus another lower-division opponent, all in the Sao Paulo State Championship.
As Santos battle against demotion in the Brazilian first tier, the number 10 no longer seems to be the decisive factor he previously represented.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti has asserted that the forward has ample opportunity to show he is ready for the World Cup.
"His goal must be to be prepared in summer. It isn't crucial if he's in the squad in October, November or spring," the coach told L'Equipe newspaper.
Ancelotti caused local debate last month by reportedly trying to shield Neymar, stating the star had been excluded from the team over fitness concerns.
But then Neymar himself disputed it, saying he "was left out for technical reasons; it has no connection to my fitness level."
In terms of public perception, it certainly didn't make it any better for Neymar.
"If the player we have invested our faith in to deliver the World Cup is excluded for technical reasons, obviously there's a problem," Cafu observed.
Will Neymar be capable of emulating Ronaldo in 2002?
Research from a leading polling institute found that Brazilians are divided over whether Neymar should be selected for his next global tournament.
With his 79 goals, Neymar is Brazil's all-time top scorer, but he hasn't improved his situation much with his behaviour on the pitch either.
He seems increased agitation than normal, having argued with fans on several occasions in stadiums - it occurred in successive games in mid-year.
The following month, the forward was left in tears after Santos endured a six-goal loss at home by their rivals - the worst result of his career.
When asked by a journalist about his physical state in a game aftermath discussion, he showed irritation: "This topic again, friend? I've responded to this 500 times already."
The similar query has been posed to his father and agent Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's plan was to spend a limited period at Santos. For what? To regain fitness. If Neymar managed to play, so be it," he earlier stated, causing displeasure among supporters.
There's remaining optimism, however, that Neymar's best days haven't ended and that he will be able to revive his career the same way forward Ronaldo "Fenômeno" did in the 2002 World Cup to overcome criticism and physical setbacks to guide Brazil to the World Cup title.
The former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan legend observes parallels.
"He's a crucial player for Brazil - there's no one else like Neymar," Ronaldo said during a recent appearance with the forward in the Brazilian city.
"It's an misrepresentation from a small group who believe he's disregarding his fitness rehabilitation.
Those who have been in football knows perfectly how hard it is to return from an injury and restore rhythm and confidence. He's moving forward."
The Santos star has a critical period ahead to demonstrate that he's not the heir who abandoned the throne.
