Brazil's Unquestioned Superstar? Neymar Jr's Global Tournament Countdown Challenge
As Ousmane Dembele received the 2025 Ballon d'Or in the autumn months, the Brazilian sensation was undergoing therapy for his third injury of the year - simultaneously participating in an virtual card tournament.
The 33-year-old football star ultimately finished as second place, collecting around seventy-three thousand pounds in prize money.
It was partial comfort on a day when he had to witness the player who previously succeeded him at Barcelona lift the award he had long hoped to win.
After coming back to his youth team Santos in January, the 33-year-old forward has failed to live up to expectations, attracting more attention for similar incidents than for his football.
His return home after a dozen campaigns away was meant to be a chance for him to rediscover his best and, crucially, revive a love of football that seemed lost after disappointing periods with Paris St-Germain and the Saudi club.
Instead, it has been widely disappointing for all parties involved.
This reflects 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.
"Even the stars have to prove that they are ready. The deadline approaches [for him]," Brazilian legend Tostao wrote in his newspaper column.
On Wednesday, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti announced his squad for the forthcoming matches against South Korea and Japan and, once again, Neymar was absent.
"The Prince", as he was nicknamed when welcomed back at Santos in a nod toward the legend Pelé, is still awaiting his debut under Ancelotti, having been missing from the national team for two years.
He continues to be an fitness concern for the November games, which, in the worst scenario, will leave him with only two friendly matches in March 2026 to demonstrate his worth to Ancelotti before the announcement of the definitive squad for the World Cup.
"Over a decade and a half, Neymar was Brazil's unquestioned talisman, carrying huge responsibility on his own," Brazilian icon Cafu stated.
"But nobody wins the World Cup alone. Putting all our expectations on him at the present time is problematic because he has difficulty to even play three games 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 zenith rivaled Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Of his several attacking returns so far, half 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 another lower-division opponent, all in the regional competition.
As Santos fight relegation in the Brazilian first tier, the number 10 no longer seems to be the game-changer he once was.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti has asserted that the forward has plenty of time to show he is ready for the World Cup.
"His goal must be to be prepared in summer. It doesn't matter if he's in the squad in October, late autumn or March," the coach told French media.
Ancelotti caused local controversy 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 challenged the claim, saying he "was excluded for technical reasons; it has no connection to my physical condition."
In terms of public perception, it certainly didn't make it any better for Neymar.
"If the player we have invested our faith in to win the World Cup is excluded for technical reasons, obviously issues exist," Cafu said.
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 included for his fourth World Cup.
With his 79 goals, Neymar is Brazil's historical leading marksman, but he hasn't helped his case much with his behaviour on the pitch either.
He seems increased agitation than normal, having confronted fans multiple times in stadiums - it occurred in successive games in mid-year.
The next 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 questioned by a journalist about his fitness condition in a game aftermath discussion, he also lost his patience: "Again with this, friend? I've answered this countless times already."
The same kind of question has been posed to his father and agent Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's plan was to remain for five months at Santos. To what end? To recover. If Neymar managed to play, amen," he previously explained, causing outrage among fans.
There's still a slight hope, however, that Neymar's prime period haven't ended and that he will be able to return to prominence the same way striker Ronaldo "Phenomenon" did in the 2002 World Cup to surmount skepticism and physical setbacks to guide Brazil to the championship trophy.
The former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan legend sees similarities.
"He's a essential 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 exaggeration from a minority who believe he's disregarding his physical recovery.
Those who have been in football understand completely how challenging it is to return from an injury and restore rhythm and confidence. He's progressing well."
The Santos star has a few decisive months ahead to show that he's not the prince who relinquished his status.
