The Brazilian Unquestioned Superstar? Neymar's World Cup Race Against Time
While the French winger claimed the 2025 Ballon d'Or in the autumn months, Neymar was receiving treatment for his latest physical setback of the year - while taking part in an virtual card tournament.
The 33-year-old football star eventually placed as runner-up, securing around seventy-three thousand pounds in tournament winnings.
It was some consolation on a day when he had to watch the player who once replaced him at Barcelona lift the award he had consistently dreamed to win.
After coming back to his boyhood club Santos in January, the experienced attacker has failed to live up to expectations, drawing more attention for similar incidents than for his on-field performances.
His return home after 12 seasons away was intended as a chance for him to regain his form and, crucially, restore a passion for the game that seemed gone after frustrating spells with PSG and Al Hilal.
Conversely, it has been widely disappointing for each stakeholder.
This reflects 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 against the clock.
"Even the stars have to demonstrate that they are ready. The deadline approaches [for him]," Brazilian legend Tostao stated in his regular feature.
On Wednesday, Brazil head coach the Italian tactician revealed his team selection for the upcoming games against South Korea and the Asian nation and, yet again, Neymar was absent.
"O Principe", as he was nicknamed when welcomed back at Santos in a nod toward the legend Pelé, is still awaiting his debut under Ancelotti, having been absent from the Selecao for 24 months.
He continues to be an injury doubt for the November games, which, in the most pessimistic outlook, will leave him with only two exhibition games in March 2026 to demonstrate his worth to Ancelotti before the revealing of the final list for the World Cup.
"For 15 years, Neymar was Brazil's unquestioned talisman, carrying huge responsibility on his own," Brazilian icon Cafu stated.
"But no one wins the World Cup alone. Placing all our expectations on him at the present time is difficult because he finds it hard to even play three games in a row."
'If Neymar is left out for technical reasons, something isn't right'
Not just has Neymar had multiple fitness issues 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 far cry from the player who during his prime rivaled Lionel Messi and the Portuguese icon.
Of his nine goal contributions so far, five have come against teams from divisions below Brazil's first division - a goal and assist against Agua Santa, followed by a goal and two assists versus Inter de Limeira, all in the regional competition.
As Santos fight relegation in the Brazilian first tier, the playmaker no longer seems to be the game-changer he once was.
Despite that, Ancelotti has asserted that the forward has plenty of time to show he is prepared for the World Cup.
"His objective must be to be ready in summer. It isn't crucial if he's in the squad in autumn, November or spring," the Italian told L'Equipe newspaper.
Ancelotti stirred local discussion last month by reportedly trying to shield Neymar, stating the star had been omitted from the team over physical condition issues.
But then Neymar himself challenged the claim, saying he "was left out for tactical decisions; it has no connection to my fitness level."
In terms of fan opinion, it certainly didn't make it any better for Neymar.
"If the player we have pinned our dreams on to win the World Cup is left out for performance issues, evidently issues exist," Cafu observed.
Is a Ronaldo-style comeback possible for Neymar?
Research from Datafolha found that the Brazilian public are split over whether Neymar should be included for his next global tournament.
With his record tally, Neymar is Brazil's all-time top scorer, but he hasn't helped his case much with his conduct during matches either.
He seems greater frustration than normal, having confronted fans on several occasions in venues - it happened in successive games in July.
The next month, the striker was emotional after Santos suffered a six-goal home defeat by their rivals - the biggest loss of his professional life.
When questioned by a journalist about his fitness condition in a post-match interview, he showed irritation: "Again with this, friend? I've answered this 500 times already."
The identical inquiry has been posed to his parent representative Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's plan was to spend five months at Santos. To what end? To recover. If Neymar managed to play, so be it," he previously explained, causing anger among fans.
There's still a slight hope, however, that Neymar's best days remain possible and that he will be able to revive his career the same way forward Ronaldo "Fenômeno" did in 2002 to overcome criticism and injuries to lead Brazil to the World Cup title.
The Brazilian great observes comparisons.
"He's a essential player for Brazil - there's no one else like Neymar," Ronaldo declared during a recent appearance with the forward in Sao Paulo.
"It's an misrepresentation from a small group who believe he's ignoring his physical recovery.
Those who have been in football recognize fully how difficult it is to recover from an setback and restore form and self-belief. He's moving forward."
The Santos star has a critical period ahead to prove that he's not the prince who abandoned the throne.
