Brazil's Undisputed Superstar? Neymar's Global Tournament Race Against Time
As Ousmane Dembele received the prestigious football award in late September, Neymar was undergoing therapy for his third injury of the year - simultaneously taking part in an online poker tournament.
The veteran football star ultimately finished as second place, securing around seventy-three thousand pounds in prize money.
It was limited solace on a day when he had to observe the player who once replaced him at Barcelona receive the award he had consistently dreamed to win.
Since returning to his boyhood club Santos in the new year, the experienced attacker has failed to live up to expectations, drawing more attention for episodes like this than for his football.
His homecoming after a dozen campaigns away was intended as a chance for him to regain his form and, most importantly, rekindle a passion for the game that seemed diminished after disappointing periods with PSG and the Saudi club.
Instead, it has been widely disappointing for all parties involved.
Such is the situation that the main question being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will make it to the upcoming global tournament.
He's running out of time.
"All players have to prove that they are prepared. The deadline approaches [for him]," Brazilian legend Tostao wrote in his regular feature.
On midweek, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti announced his squad for the forthcoming matches against Korea Republic and the Asian nation and, yet again, Neymar was excluded.
"The Prince", as he was nicknamed when welcomed back at Santos in a nod toward the king Pele, is still awaiting his debut under Ancelotti, having been absent from the national team for 24 months.
He also remains an fitness concern for the November games, which, in the worst scenario, will leave him with only two exhibition games in March 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 unquestioned talisman, bearing enormous expectations 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 struggles to even play multiple matches in a row."
'Omission based on skill level signals deeper issues'
Not only has Neymar had repeated injury problems since his homecoming - 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 peak dared to challenge Lionel Messi and the Portuguese icon.
Of his several attacking returns so far, half have come against teams from divisions below Brazil's top flight - a scoring contribution 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 top division, the number 10 no longer seems to be the difference maker he previously represented.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti has asserted that the forward has ample opportunity to show he is prepared for the World Cup.
"His aim must be to be prepared in June. It isn't crucial if he's in the squad in autumn, late autumn or March," the Italian told L'Equipe newspaper.
Ancelotti created local debate last month by allegedly attempting to shield Neymar, suggesting the star had been excluded from the team over fitness concerns.
But then Neymar himself disputed it, saying he "was left out for tactical decisions; it has no connection to my physical condition."
In terms of public perception, it definitely didn't help for Neymar.
"If the player we have invested our faith in to deliver the World Cup is excluded for performance issues, clearly something isn't right," Cafu observed.
Will Neymar be capable of emulating Ronaldo in 2002?
Research from Datafolha found that Brazilians are split 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 improved his situation much with his conduct during matches either.
He seems greater frustration than normal, having exchanged words with fans repeatedly in stadiums - it occurred in three consecutive matches in July.
The following month, the striker was emotional after Santos suffered a six-goal loss at home by their rivals - the heaviest defeat of his career.
When questioned by a journalist about his fitness condition in a game aftermath discussion, he became frustrated: "This topic again, mate? I've answered this repeatedly already."
The same kind of question has been posed to his parent representative Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's strategy was to spend a limited period at Santos. For what? To recover. If Neymar managed to play, amen," he earlier stated, causing anger among supporters.
There's still a slight hope, however, that Neymar's best days remain possible and that he will be able to resurrect his form 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 essential player for Brazil - there's no one else like Neymar," Ronaldo said during a recent event with the forward in the Brazilian city.
"It's an exaggeration from a minority who believe he's ignoring his fitness rehabilitation.
Those who have been in football recognize fully how hard it is to return from an injury and recover form and self-belief. He's moving forward."
The Santos star has a important timeframe ahead to show that he's not the heir who abandoned the throne.
