Brazil's Unquestioned Superstar? Neymar Jr's Global Tournament Countdown Challenge
As the French winger was crowned the 2025 Ballon d'Or in the autumn months, Neymar was undergoing therapy for his third injury of the year - simultaneously participating in an virtual card tournament.
The 33-year-old Brazilian ace eventually placed as second place, securing around seventy-three thousand pounds in prize money.
It was some consolation on a day when he had to witness the player who previously succeeded him at Barcelona receive the award he had consistently dreamed to win.
After coming back to his boyhood club Santos in the new year, the 33-year-old forward has fallen short of expectations, attracting 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, revive a love of football that seemed gone after disappointing periods with PSG and Al Hilal.
Instead, it has been widely disappointing for each stakeholder.
Such is the situation that the main question being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will participate in the upcoming global tournament.
He's running out of time.
"All players have to prove that they are ready. The deadline approaches [for him]," 1970 World Cup-winner Tostao commented in his newspaper column.
On Wednesday, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti disclosed his squad for the upcoming games against South Korea and Japan and, once again, Neymar was not in it.
"O Principe", as he was dubbed when welcomed back at Santos in a nod toward the king Pele, is yet to play under Ancelotti, having been missing from the national team 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 exhibition games in spring 2026 to demonstrate his worth to Ancelotti before the announcement of the final list for the World Cup.
"For 15 years, Neymar was Brazil's clear standout, bearing massive pressure on his own," former AC Milan and Roma legend Cafu remarked.
"But no one wins the World Cup alone. Putting all our expectations 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 homecoming - he's been absent for nearly half of Santos' matches this campaign - but, when he was able to play, he was a distant from the player who during his prime rivaled the Argentine maestro and the Portuguese icon.
Of his several attacking returns so far, half have come against teams from lower tiers than Brazil's top flight - a goal and assist against a lower-league side, followed by a goal and two assists versus another lower-division opponent, all in the regional competition.
As Santos fight relegation in the top division, the number 10 no longer seems to be the game-changer he once was.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti has insisted that the forward has sufficient months to show he is ready for the World Cup.
"His objective must be to be prepared in June. It doesn't matter if he's in the squad in autumn, November or spring," the Italian told L'Equipe newspaper.
Ancelotti stirred local debate last month by reportedly trying to protect Neymar, claiming the star had been omitted from the team over physical condition issues.
But then Neymar himself contradicted this, saying he "was left out 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 deliver the World Cup is left out for technical reasons, evidently something isn't right," Cafu commented.
Will Neymar be capable of emulating Ronaldo in 2002?
Research from a leading polling institute found that the Brazilian public are divided over whether Neymar should be called up for his fourth World Cup.
With his 79 goals, Neymar is Brazil's all-time top scorer, but he hasn't helped his case much with his behaviour on the pitch either.
He seems greater frustration than usual, having confronted fans multiple times in venues - it occurred in successive games in mid-year.
The following month, the striker was left in tears after Santos endured a six-goal home defeat by their rivals - the biggest loss of his career.
When asked by a reporter about his physical state in a game aftermath discussion, he showed irritation: "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. To what end? To recover. If Neymar was able to feature, so be it," he earlier stated, causing anger among fans.
There's continuing belief, however, that Neymar's best days remain possible and that he will be able to revive his career the same way forward Ronaldo "Phenomenon" did in 2002 to surmount criticism and injuries to lead Brazil to the World Cup title.
The Brazilian great notes parallels.
"He's a crucial player for Brazil - there's no one else like Neymar," Ronaldo stated during a recent appearance with the forward in Sao Paulo.
"It's an misrepresentation from a small group who believe he's disregarding his physical recovery.
Those who have been in football understand completely how difficult it is to come back from an setback and recover rhythm and confidence. He's moving forward."
The Brazilian forward has a critical period ahead to show that he's not the heir who relinquished his status.
