Brazil's Unquestioned Star? Neymar Jr's Global Tournament Race Against Time
While the French winger received the 2025 Ballon d'Or in the autumn months, the Brazilian sensation was receiving treatment for his latest physical setback of the year - simultaneously taking part in an online poker tournament.
The veteran football star eventually placed as runner-up, securing around seventy-three thousand pounds in tournament winnings.
It was limited solace on a day when he had to witness the player who once replaced him at Barcelona claim the award he had long hoped to win.
After returning to his youth team Santos in the new year, the 33-year-old forward 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 rediscover his best and, most importantly, restore a love of football that seemed gone after frustrating spells with Paris St-Germain and the Saudi club.
Instead, it has been widely disappointing for each stakeholder.
Such is the situation that the main question being asked right now in Brazil is whether Neymar will participate in the upcoming global tournament.
He's running out of time.
"All players have to demonstrate that they are fit. The clock is ticking [for him]," 1970 World Cup-winner Tostao stated in his newspaper column.
On Wednesday, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti announced his squad for the forthcoming matches against Korea Republic and Japan and, yet again, Neymar was not in it.
"O Principe", as he was nicknamed when received at Santos in a nod toward the king Pele, is still awaiting his debut under Ancelotti, having been absent from the Selecao for two years.
He also remains an injury doubt for the autumn fixtures, which, in the most pessimistic outlook, will leave him with only two friendly matches in spring 2026 to prove himself to Ancelotti before the announcement of the final list for the World Cup.
"For 15 years, Neymar was Brazil's clear standout, shouldering huge responsibility on his own," former AC Milan and Roma legend Cafu said.
"But nobody wins the World Cup alone. Putting all our hopes on him at the present time is challenging because he has difficulty to even play multiple matches in a row."
'Omission based on skill level signals deeper issues'
Not just has Neymar had various physical concerns since his return to Brazil - he's missed 47% of Santos' matches this campaign - but, when he was able to play, he was a different to the player who during his peak rivaled the Argentine maestro and the Portuguese icon.
Of his nine goal contributions so far, half have come against teams from divisions below Brazil's top flight - a scoring contribution against a lower-league side, followed by a three goal involvements versus Inter de Limeira, all in the regional competition.
As Santos fight relegation in the top division, the playmaker no longer seems to be the difference maker he previously represented.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti has insisted that the forward has plenty of time to show he is ready for the World Cup.
"His aim must be to be prepared in summer. It doesn't matter if he's in the squad in October, November or March," the Italian told L'Equipe newspaper.
Ancelotti created local discussion last month by reportedly trying to shield Neymar, stating the star had been omitted from the team over fitness concerns.
But then Neymar himself challenged the claim, saying he "was excluded for tactical decisions; it has nothing to do with my fitness level."
In terms of popular view, it certainly didn't make it any better for Neymar.
"If the player we have placed all our hopes on to win the World Cup is excluded for technical reasons, obviously something isn't right," Cafu observed.
Can Neymar follow Ronaldo's 2002 example?
Polls from Datafolha found that the Brazilian public are divided over whether Neymar should be included 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 more on edge than usual, having argued with fans repeatedly in stadiums - it occurred in successive games in July.
The next month, the striker was emotional after Santos endured a 6-0 home defeat by Vasco da Gama - the worst result of his career.
When questioned by a reporter about his physical state in a game aftermath discussion, he also lost his patience: "Again with this, mate? I've answered this 500 times already."
The identical inquiry has been posed to his father and agent Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's strategy was to spend a limited period at Santos. To what end? To regain fitness. If Neymar was able to feature, so be it," he earlier stated, causing anger among fans.
There's remaining optimism, however, that Neymar's best days haven't ended and that he will be able to resurrect his form the same way striker Ronaldo "Phenomenon" did in the 2002 World Cup to surmount criticism and injuries to lead Brazil to the World Cup title.
The Brazilian great observes comparisons.
"He's a crucial player for Brazil - there's nobody like Neymar," Ronaldo said during a recent appearance with the forward in the Brazilian city.
"It's an exaggeration from a minority who believe he's disregarding his physical recovery.
Anyone who have been in football knows perfectly how hard it is to recover from an setback and regain rhythm and confidence. He's moving forward."
The Santos star has a important timeframe ahead to show that he's not the prince who stepped away from greatness.
