Brazil's Unquestioned Superstar? Neymar Jr's World Cup Race Against Time
As the French winger was crowned the prestigious football award in the autumn months, Neymar was lying in bed for his third injury of the year - while participating in an online poker tournament.
The veteran football star ultimately finished as second place, earning 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 long hoped to win.
Since returning to his youth team Santos in January, the experienced attacker has fallen short of expectations, drawing more attention for similar incidents than for his football.
His return home after a dozen campaigns away was intended as a chance for him to rediscover his best and, crucially, restore a passion for the game that seemed lost after frustrating spells with Paris St-Germain and Al Hilal.
Instead, it has been generally unsatisfactory for each stakeholder.
This reflects the situation that the main question 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 demonstrate that they are fit. The clock is ticking [for him]," 1970 World Cup-winner Tostao wrote in his regular feature.
On Wednesday, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti announced his squad for the forthcoming matches against Korea Republic and the Asian nation and, yet again, Neymar was excluded.
"O Principe", as he was dubbed when welcomed back at Santos in a reference to the king Pele, is still awaiting his debut under Ancelotti, having been absent from the Selecao for two years.
He continues to be an injury doubt for the November games, which, in the worst scenario, will leave him with only two exhibition games in spring 2026 to demonstrate his worth to Ancelotti before the revealing 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 no one wins the World Cup alone. Putting all our hopes on him at the present time is difficult because he finds it hard 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 repeated injury problems since his return to Brazil - he's missed 47% of Santos' matches this campaign - but, when he was available for selection, he was a far cry from the player who during his prime dared to challenge the Argentine maestro and the Portuguese icon.
Of his nine goal contributions so far, five have come against teams from divisions below Brazil's top flight - a scoring contribution against Agua Santa, followed by a three goal involvements versus another lower-division opponent, all in the Sao Paulo State Championship.
As Santos fight relegation in the top division, the playmaker no longer seems to be the difference maker he previously represented.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti has asserted that the forward has sufficient months 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, late autumn or March," the Italian told French media.
Ancelotti caused local controversy last month by reportedly trying to shield Neymar, stating the star had been omitted from the team over fitness concerns.
But then Neymar himself disputed it, saying he "was left out for tactical decisions; it has no connection to my fitness level."
In terms of popular view, it certainly didn't make it any better for Neymar.
"If the player we have pinned our dreams on to deliver the World Cup is left out for technical reasons, obviously issues exist," Cafu observed.
Is a Ronaldo-style comeback possible for Neymar?
Polls 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 record tally, 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 increased agitation than normal, having argued with fans repeatedly in stadiums - it happened in successive games in mid-year.
The following month, the forward was reduced to crying after Santos suffered a 6-0 home defeat by Vasco da Gama - the biggest loss of his professional life.
When questioned by a reporter about his physical state in a game aftermath discussion, he also lost his patience: "This topic again, friend? I've answered this repeatedly already."
The identical inquiry has been directed at his father and agent Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's strategy was to spend five months at Santos. For what? To regain fitness. If Neymar managed to play, amen," he previously explained, causing displeasure among supporters.
There's still a slight hope, however, that Neymar's best days haven't ended and that he will be able to resurrect his form the same way forward Ronaldo "FenĂ´meno" did in 2002 to surmount skepticism and injuries to lead Brazil to the World Cup title.
The Brazilian great notes comparisons.
"He's a vital player for Brazil - there's nobody like Neymar," Ronaldo declared during a recent appearance with the forward in Sao Paulo.
"It's an overstatement from a small group who believe he's ignoring his fitness rehabilitation.
Those who have been in football understand completely how challenging it is to return from an setback and restore form and self-belief. He's progressing well."
The Brazilian forward has a important timeframe ahead to show that he's not the heir who abandoned the throne.
