Brazil's Undisputed Superstar? Neymar's World Cup Race Against Time
While the French winger was crowned the prestigious football award in the autumn months, the Brazilian sensation was undergoing therapy for his third injury of the year - while participating in an online poker tournament.
The 33-year-old football star ultimately finished as second place, securing around seventy-three thousand pounds in tournament winnings.
It was some consolation on a day when he had to watch the player who once replaced him at Barcelona claim the award he had consistently dreamed to win.
After returning to his boyhood club Santos in the new year, the experienced attacker has failed to live up to expectations, drawing more attention for comparable situations than for his football.
His return home after 12 seasons 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 frustrating spells with Paris St-Germain and Al Hilal.
Instead, it has been largely underwhelming for everyone concerned.
This reflects the situation that the key issue being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will participate in the upcoming global tournament.
He's facing a deadline.
"Even the stars have to prove that they are prepared. The time is passing [for him]," 1970 World Cup-winner Tostao commented in his newspaper column.
On Wednesday, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti announced his team selection for the upcoming games against Korea Republic and Japan and, yet again, Neymar was absent.
"O Principe", as he was nicknamed when received at Santos in a reference to the legend Pelé, is yet to play under Ancelotti, having been absent from the Selecao for 24 months.
He continues to be an fitness concern 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 definitive squad for the World Cup.
"Over a decade and a half, Neymar was Brazil's undisputed star, bearing enormous expectations on his own," Brazilian icon Cafu said.
"But no one wins the World Cup single-handedly. Placing all our hopes 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 missed nearly half of Santos' matches this campaign - but, when he was available for selection, he was a far cry from the player who during his peak competed with Lionel Messi and the Portuguese icon.
Of his several attacking returns so far, five have come against teams from lower tiers than Brazil's first division - a goal and assist against Agua Santa, followed by a three goal involvements versus Inter de Limeira, all in the Sao Paulo State Championship.
As Santos fight relegation in the Brazilian first tier, the number 10 no longer seems to be the decisive factor 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 autumn, late autumn or spring," the coach told L'Equipe newspaper.
Ancelotti stirred local debate last month by allegedly attempting to protect Neymar, claiming the star had been omitted from the team over physical condition issues.
But then Neymar himself challenged the claim, saying he "was left out for tactical decisions; it has nothing to do with my physical condition."
In terms of popular view, it undoubtedly worsened the situation for Neymar.
"If the player we have placed all our hopes on to win the World Cup is excluded for technical reasons, evidently issues exist," Cafu commented.
Will Neymar be capable of emulating Ronaldo in 2002?
Polls from a leading polling institute 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 historical leading marksman, but he hasn't helped his case much with his in-game attitude either.
He seems increased agitation than normal, having confronted fans on several occasions in venues - it occurred in three consecutive matches in July.
The following month, the forward was reduced to crying after Santos endured a 6-0 home defeat by their rivals - the heaviest defeat of his career.
When asked by a journalist about his fitness condition in a post-match interview, he became frustrated: "This topic again, mate? I've responded to this countless times already."
The similar query has been directed at his father and agent Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's intention was to spend five months at Santos. For what? To regain fitness. If Neymar managed to play, amen," he earlier stated, causing displeasure among fans.
There's continuing belief, however, that Neymar's peak years haven't ended and that he will be able to return to prominence the same way striker Ronaldo "Phenomenon" did in 2002 to overcome skepticism and physical setbacks to guide Brazil to the World Cup title.
The Brazilian great observes parallels.
"He's a vital player for Brazil - there's no one else like Neymar," Ronaldo said during a recent appearance with the forward in Sao Paulo.
"It's an misrepresentation from a minority who believe he's disregarding his fitness rehabilitation.
Anyone who have been in football understand completely how challenging it is to come back from an setback and restore rhythm and confidence. He's moving forward."
The Santos star has a important timeframe ahead to show that he's not the heir who relinquished his status.
