The Brazilian Unquestioned Star? Neymar's World Cup Countdown Challenge
While the French winger received the 2025 Ballon d'Or in the autumn months, Neymar was lying in bed for his third injury of the year - simultaneously taking part in an virtual card tournament.
The 33-year-old football star ultimately finished as second place, earning around seventy-three thousand pounds in tournament winnings.
It was limited solace on a day when he had to observe the player who once replaced him at Barcelona lift the award he had long hoped to win.
Since returning to his youth team Santos in January, the 33-year-old forward has failed to live up to expectations, drawing more attention for similar incidents than for his football.
His homecoming after a dozen campaigns away was intended as a chance for him to regain his form and, crucially, revive a passion for the game that seemed gone after frustrating spells with Paris St-Germain and the Saudi club.
Conversely, it has been generally unsatisfactory for all parties involved.
Such is the situation that the primary concern being asked right now in Brazil is whether Neymar will make it to the upcoming global tournament.
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 wrote in his newspaper column.
On midweek, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti disclosed his team selection for the forthcoming matches against Korea Republic and Japan and, once again, Neymar was not in it.
"The Prince", as he was dubbed when received at Santos in a nod toward the king Pele, is still awaiting his debut under Ancelotti, having been missing from the Selecao for 24 months.
He continues to be an injury doubt for the autumn fixtures, which, in the worst scenario, will leave him with just a pair of exhibition games in March 2026 to demonstrate his worth to Ancelotti before the announcement of the final list for the World Cup.
"Over a decade and a half, Neymar was Brazil's unquestioned talisman, carrying massive pressure on his own," Brazilian icon Cafu said.
"But nobody wins the World Cup alone. Placing all our expectations on him at the moment is difficult because he finds it hard to even play multiple matches in a row."
'Technical exclusion raises serious questions about Neymar'
Not just has Neymar had multiple fitness issues since his homecoming - he's been absent for nearly half of Santos' matches this campaign - but, when he was able to play, he was a distant from the player who during his peak competed with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Of his several attacking returns so far, half have come against teams from lower tiers than Brazil's top flight - a scoring contribution against a lower-league side, followed by a goal and two assists versus Inter de Limeira, all in the regional competition.
As Santos battle against demotion in the Brazilian first tier, the number 10 no longer seems to be the difference maker he previously represented.
Despite that, Ancelotti has maintained that the forward has ample opportunity to show he is prepared for the World Cup.
"His objective must be to be ready in summer. It doesn't matter if he's in the squad in autumn, late autumn or spring," the coach told L'Equipe newspaper.
Ancelotti created local debate last month by allegedly attempting to protect Neymar, suggesting the star had been omitted from the team over physical condition issues.
But then Neymar himself disputed it, saying he "was excluded for technical reasons; it has nothing to do with my physical condition."
In terms of fan opinion, it definitely didn't help for Neymar.
"If the player we have pinned our dreams on to win the World Cup is left out for performance issues, clearly there's a problem," Cafu commented.
Will Neymar be capable of emulating Ronaldo in 2002?
Research from Datafolha found that Brazilians are divided over whether Neymar should be called up 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 conduct during matches either.
He seems more on edge than normal, having confronted fans on several occasions in stadiums - it occurred in three consecutive matches in July.
The following month, the forward was emotional after Santos endured a 6-0 home defeat by their rivals - the biggest loss of his professional life.
When questioned by a reporter about his fitness condition in a post-match interview, he also lost his patience: "Again with this, friend? I've responded to this countless times already."
The same kind of question has been posed to his parent representative Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's plan was to remain for five months at Santos. To what end? To regain fitness. If Neymar managed to play, so be it," he previously explained, causing displeasure among supporters.
There's continuing belief, however, that Neymar's peak years aren't over and that he will be able to revive his career the same way striker Ronaldo "Fenômeno" did in the 2002 World Cup to overcome doubt and physical setbacks to guide Brazil to the championship trophy.
The Brazilian great observes similarities.
"He's a crucial player for Brazil - there's nobody like Neymar," Ronaldo stated during a recent event with the forward in Sao Paulo.
"It's an exaggeration from a minority who believe he's neglecting his fitness rehabilitation.
Those who have been in football understand completely how hard it is to return from an injury and regain rhythm and confidence. He's progressing well."
The Santos star has a critical period ahead to prove that he's not the heir who relinquished his status.
