The Brazilian Unquestioned Star? Neymar's Global Tournament Countdown Challenge
While Ousmane Dembele claimed the 2025 Ballon d'Or in late September, the Brazilian sensation was lying in bed for his third injury of the year - simultaneously taking part in an online poker tournament.
The 33-year-old Brazilian ace eventually placed as second place, earning around seventy-three thousand pounds in prize money.
It was partial comfort on a day when he had to watch the player who once replaced him at Barcelona claim the award he had long hoped to win.
Since coming back to his boyhood club Santos in January, the experienced attacker has failed to live up to expectations, attracting more attention for episodes like this than for his on-field performances.
His homecoming after 12 seasons away was intended as a chance for him to regain his form and, crucially, rekindle a passion for the game that seemed lost after disappointing periods with Paris St-Germain and the Saudi club.
Conversely, it has been generally unsatisfactory for all parties involved.
This reflects the situation that the primary concern being asked right now in Brazil is whether Neymar will participate in the 2026 World Cup.
He's facing a deadline.
"Even the stars have to prove that they are ready. The clock is ticking [for him]," 1970 World Cup-winner Tostao commented in his newspaper column.
On Wednesday, Brazil head coach the Italian tactician announced his team selection for the upcoming games against South Korea and the Asian nation and, yet again, Neymar was not in it.
"The Prince", as he was dubbed when received 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 also remains an fitness concern for the autumn fixtures, which, in the most pessimistic outlook, will leave him with just a pair of friendly matches in March 2026 to demonstrate his worth to Ancelotti before the announcement of the definitive squad for the World Cup.
"For 15 years, Neymar was Brazil's unquestioned talisman, carrying enormous expectations on his own," Brazilian icon Cafu said.
"But nobody wins the World Cup alone. Placing all our expectations on him at the present time is challenging because he has difficulty to even play multiple matches in a row."
'If Neymar is left out for technical reasons, something isn't right'
Not only has Neymar had various physical concerns since his homecoming - he's been absent for 47% of Santos' matches this campaign - but, when he was able to play, he was a far cry from the player who during his prime rivaled Lionel Messi and the Portuguese icon.
Of his several attacking returns so far, five have come against teams from lower tiers than 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 Brazilian first tier, the playmaker no longer seems to be the game-changer 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 aim 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 French media.
Ancelotti caused local debate last month by allegedly attempting to protect Neymar, suggesting the star had been excluded from the team over physical condition issues.
But then Neymar himself disputed it, saying he "was left out for technical reasons; it has no connection to my fitness level."
In terms of public perception, it definitely didn't help for Neymar.
"If the player we have placed all our hopes on to deliver the World Cup is excluded for technical reasons, evidently issues exist," Cafu observed.
Will Neymar be capable of emulating Ronaldo in 2002?
Studies from Datafolha found that the Brazilian public are split over whether Neymar should be called up for his next global tournament.
With his 79 goals, Neymar is Brazil's all-time top scorer, but he hasn't helped his case much with his in-game attitude either.
He seems more on edge than normal, having argued with fans repeatedly in stadiums - it happened in three consecutive matches in mid-year.
The following month, the striker was left in tears after Santos suffered a 6-0 home defeat by Vasco da Gama - the worst result of his professional life.
When questioned by a reporter about his fitness condition in a post-match interview, he became frustrated: "This topic again, friend? I've answered this 500 times already."
The same kind of question has been directed at his parent representative Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's intention was to remain for five months at Santos. For what? To regain fitness. If Neymar managed to play, amen," he earlier stated, causing anger among supporters.
There's still a slight hope, however, that Neymar's prime period haven't ended and that he will be able to resurrect his form the same way striker Ronaldo "Phenomenon" did in 2002 to overcome doubt and physical setbacks to lead Brazil to the championship trophy.
The former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan legend notes comparisons.
"He's a essential player for Brazil - there's nobody like Neymar," Ronaldo declared during a recent appearance with the forward in the Brazilian city.
"It's an overstatement from a minority who believe he's ignoring his physical recovery.
Anyone who have been in football understand completely how challenging it is to come back from an setback and restore form and self-belief. He's right on track."
The Santos star has a important timeframe ahead to show that he's not the heir who abandoned the throne.
