Brazil's Unquestioned Superstar? Neymar Jr's World Cup Countdown Challenge
As Ousmane Dembele received the prestigious football award in late September, the Brazilian sensation was receiving treatment for his third injury of the year - simultaneously participating in an virtual card tournament.
The 33-year-old football star ultimately finished as runner-up, collecting around seventy-three thousand pounds in prize money.
It was limited solace on a day when he had to watch the player who once replaced him at Barcelona receive the award he had long hoped to win.
After coming back to his youth team Santos in January, the 33-year-old forward has fallen short of expectations, attracting more attention for episodes like this than for his on-field performances.
His return home after 12 seasons away was meant to be a chance for him to regain his form and, most importantly, restore a passion for the game that seemed lost after frustrating spells with PSG and the Saudi club.
Instead, it has been widely disappointing for everyone concerned.
Such is the situation that the key issue being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will be part of the upcoming global tournament.
He's against the clock.
"Even the stars have to demonstrate that they are ready. The deadline approaches [for him]," Brazilian legend Tostao wrote in his newspaper column.
On Wednesday, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti disclosed his team selection for the upcoming games against South Korea and Japan and, yet again, Neymar was not in it.
"The Prince", as he was dubbed when received at Santos in a reference to the legend Pelé, is yet to play under Ancelotti, having been missing from the Selecao for 24 months.
He continues to be an fitness concern for the November games, which, in the most pessimistic outlook, will leave him with only two exhibition games in March 2026 to prove himself to Ancelotti before the announcement of the final list for the World Cup.
"For 15 years, Neymar was Brazil's undisputed star, bearing massive pressure on his own," former AC Milan and Roma legend Cafu stated.
"But no one wins the World Cup alone. Putting all our expectations on him at the moment is challenging because he struggles to even play multiple matches in a row."
'Technical exclusion raises serious questions about Neymar'
Not just has Neymar had various physical concerns since his homecoming - he's missed nearly half of Santos' matches this campaign - but, when he was able to play, he was a far cry from the player who during his zenith competed with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Of his nine goal contributions 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 goal and two assists versus another lower-division opponent, all in the regional competition.
As Santos fight relegation in the top division, the playmaker no longer seems to be the game-changer he previously represented.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti has maintained that the forward has ample opportunity to show he is prepared for the World Cup.
"His goal must be to be prepared in summer. It doesn't matter if he's in the squad in autumn, November or spring," the Italian told L'Equipe newspaper.
Ancelotti created local controversy last month by allegedly attempting to protect Neymar, suggesting the star had been omitted from the team over fitness concerns.
But then Neymar himself disputed it, saying he "was excluded for tactical decisions; it has no connection to my fitness level."
In terms of fan opinion, it certainly didn't make it any better for Neymar.
"If the player we have invested our faith in to deliver the World Cup is excluded for performance issues, clearly something isn't right," Cafu commented.
Can Neymar follow Ronaldo's 2002 example?
Studies from a leading polling institute found that Brazilians 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 greater frustration than normal, having confronted fans on several occasions in venues - it occurred in successive games in mid-year.
The following month, the forward was reduced to crying after Santos suffered a 6-0 home defeat by their rivals - the heaviest defeat of his professional life.
When questioned by a journalist about his physical state in a game aftermath discussion, he became frustrated: "Again with this, mate? I've answered this 500 times already."
The same kind of question has been posed to his parent representative Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's strategy was to remain for a limited period at Santos. To what end? To regain fitness. If Neymar was able to feature, so be it," he earlier stated, causing displeasure among fans.
There's still a slight hope, however, that Neymar's peak years aren't over and that he will be able to revive his career the same way forward Ronaldo "Phenomenon" did in 2002 to overcome skepticism and injuries to lead Brazil to the World Cup title.
The former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan legend sees comparisons.
"He's a crucial player for Brazil - there's nobody like Neymar," Ronaldo stated during a recent appearance with the forward in the Brazilian city.
"It's an exaggeration from a small group who believe he's disregarding his physical recovery.
Anyone who have been in football knows perfectly how challenging it is to recover from an setback and restore rhythm and confidence. He's progressing well."
The Brazilian forward has a few decisive months ahead to show that he's not the prince who abandoned the throne.
