Brazil's Undisputed Star? Neymar's World Cup Countdown Challenge
While Ousmane Dembele was crowned the 2025 Ballon d'Or in late September, Neymar was lying in bed for his third injury of the year - simultaneously engaging in an virtual card tournament.
The veteran football star eventually placed as runner-up, collecting around seventy-three thousand pounds in prize money.
It was limited solace on a day when he had to watch the player who once replaced him at Barcelona lift the award he had long hoped to win.
After returning to his youth team Santos in January, the experienced attacker has fallen short of expectations, drawing more attention for similar incidents than for his football.
His homecoming after 12 seasons away was meant to be a chance for him to regain his form and, most importantly, restore a love of football that seemed diminished after disappointing periods with Paris St-Germain and the Saudi club.
Conversely, 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 upcoming global tournament.
He's running out of time.
"All players have to prove that they are ready. The time is passing [for him]," 1970 World Cup-winner Tostao wrote in his newspaper column.
On midweek, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti disclosed his squad for the forthcoming matches against South Korea and the Asian nation and, yet again, Neymar was not in it.
"The Prince", as he was nicknamed when welcomed back at Santos in a reference to the king Pele, is still awaiting his debut under Ancelotti, having been absent from the national team for two years.
He also remains an injury doubt for the autumn fixtures, which, in the worst scenario, 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 undisputed star, carrying enormous expectations on his own," former AC Milan and Roma legend Cafu said.
"But no one wins the World Cup alone. Placing all our expectations on him at the present time is problematic because he finds it hard to even play multiple matches in a row."
'Omission based on skill level signals deeper issues'
Not only has Neymar had various physical concerns since his return to Brazil - he's been absent for 47% of Santos' matches this season - but, when he was able to play, he was a distant from the player who during his prime dared to challenge Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Of his several attacking returns so far, half have come against teams from lower tiers than 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 Sao Paulo State Championship.
As Santos fight relegation in the Brazilian first tier, the playmaker no longer seems to be the difference maker he previously represented.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti has insisted that the forward has sufficient months to show he is prepared for the World Cup.
"His goal must be to be ready in June. It isn't crucial if he's in the squad in autumn, November or March," the coach told French media.
Ancelotti created local discussion last month by reportedly trying to protect Neymar, suggesting the star had been omitted from the team over physical condition issues.
But then Neymar himself contradicted this, saying he "was excluded for technical reasons; it has nothing to do with my fitness level."
In terms of fan opinion, it undoubtedly worsened the situation for Neymar.
"If the player we have invested our faith in to win the World Cup is left out for performance issues, clearly issues exist," Cafu observed.
Will Neymar be capable of emulating Ronaldo in 2002?
Polls from Datafolha found that Brazilians are divided over whether Neymar should be selected for his next global tournament.
With his 79 goals, Neymar is Brazil's historical leading marksman, but he hasn't improved his situation much with his conduct during matches either.
He seems greater frustration than usual, having exchanged words with fans on several occasions in venues - it happened in successive games in mid-year.
The next 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 reporter about his fitness condition in a game aftermath discussion, he became frustrated: "This topic again, friend? I've responded to this countless times already."
The similar query has been posed to his father and agent Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's plan was to remain for a limited period at Santos. To what end? To regain fitness. If Neymar was able to feature, amen," he earlier stated, causing anger among followers.
There's still a slight hope, however, that Neymar's best days aren't over and that he will be able to return to prominence the same way forward Ronaldo "Fenômeno" did in the 2002 World Cup to overcome doubt and injuries to guide Brazil to the championship trophy.
The former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan legend notes similarities.
"He's a vital player for Brazil - there's nobody like Neymar," Ronaldo stated during a recent appearance with the forward in the Brazilian city.
"It's an overstatement from a small group who believe he's ignoring his fitness rehabilitation.
Anyone who have been in football recognize fully how hard it is to come back from an setback and recover form and self-belief. He's right on track."
The Brazilian forward has a critical period ahead to demonstrate that he's not the heir who abandoned the throne.
