The Brazilian Undisputed Superstar? Neymar's World Cup Countdown Challenge
As the French winger was crowned the prestigious football award in the autumn months, Neymar was lying in bed for his latest physical setback of the year - while engaging in an virtual card tournament.
The veteran Brazilian ace ultimately finished as second place, earning around seventy-three thousand pounds in prize money.
It was some consolation on a day when he had to witness the player who once replaced him at Barcelona receive the award he had consistently dreamed to win.
After returning to his boyhood club Santos in the new year, the 33-year-old forward has failed to live up to expectations, drawing more attention for similar incidents than for his football.
His return home after 12 seasons away was intended as a chance for him to return to peak condition and, most importantly, rekindle a love of football that seemed gone after disappointing periods with Paris St-Germain and Al Hilal.
Conversely, it has been generally unsatisfactory for each stakeholder.
This reflects the situation that the main question being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will be part of the 2026 World Cup.
He's running out of time.
"All players have to demonstrate that they are ready. The time is passing [for him]," 1970 World Cup-winner Tostao stated in his newspaper column.
On midweek, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti disclosed his team selection for the forthcoming matches against South Korea and the Asian nation and, yet again, Neymar was excluded.
"The Prince", as he was dubbed when welcomed back at Santos in a nod toward the legend Pelé, is yet to play under Ancelotti, having been absent from the Selecao for 24 months.
He continues to be an injury doubt for the autumn fixtures, 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 announcement of the definitive squad for the World Cup.
"Over a decade and a half, Neymar was Brazil's clear standout, carrying massive pressure on his own," Brazilian icon Cafu remarked.
"But no one wins the World Cup alone. Putting all our hopes on him at the present time is difficult because he finds it hard to even play multiple matches in a row."
'Omission based on skill level signals deeper issues'
Not just has Neymar had repeated injury problems since his return to Brazil - he's missed 47% of Santos' matches this campaign - but, when he was available for selection, he was a far cry from the player who during his prime competed with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Of his nine goal contributions so far, half have come against teams from divisions below Brazil's first division - a scoring contribution 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 fight relegation in the top division, the playmaker no longer seems to be the difference maker he once was.
Despite that, Ancelotti has maintained that the forward has plenty of time to show he is fit 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, November or spring," the Italian told French media.
Ancelotti created local controversy last month by allegedly attempting to shield Neymar, claiming the star had been excluded from the team over physical condition issues.
But then Neymar himself contradicted this, saying he "was left out for tactical decisions; it has no connection to my physical condition."
In terms of fan opinion, it undoubtedly worsened the situation for Neymar.
"If the player we have placed all our hopes on to deliver the World Cup is excluded for technical reasons, evidently there's a problem," Cafu commented.
Is a Ronaldo-style comeback possible for Neymar?
Studies from Datafolha found that the Brazilian public are divided over whether Neymar should be called up for his fourth World Cup.
With his record tally, Neymar is Brazil's historical leading marksman, but he hasn't helped his case much with his behaviour on the pitch either.
He seems increased agitation than usual, having argued with fans on several occasions in venues - it occurred in three consecutive matches in mid-year.
The following month, the forward was reduced to crying after Santos endured a six-goal home defeat by Vasco da Gama - the biggest loss of his professional life.
When asked by a reporter about his fitness condition in a game aftermath discussion, he also lost his patience: "This topic again, mate? I've responded to this countless times already."
The identical inquiry has been posed to his parent representative Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's intention was to spend five months at Santos. For what? To recover. If Neymar was able to feature, so be it," he previously explained, causing outrage among fans.
There's remaining optimism, however, that Neymar's best days aren't over and that he will be able to return to prominence the same way striker Ronaldo "Fenômeno" did in the 2002 World Cup to overcome skepticism and physical setbacks to guide Brazil to the championship trophy.
The Brazilian great notes similarities.
"He's a essential player for Brazil - there's nobody like Neymar," Ronaldo declared during a recent appearance with the forward in Sao Paulo.
"It's an exaggeration from a minority who believe he's disregarding his fitness rehabilitation.
Those who have been in football recognize fully how challenging it is to recover from an setback and restore form and self-belief. He's moving forward."
The Brazilian forward has a few decisive months ahead to show that he's not the heir who relinquished his status.
