The Brazilian Unquestioned Superstar? Neymar Jr's Global Tournament Race Against Time
As Ousmane Dembele was crowned the 2025 Ballon d'Or in the autumn months, Neymar was lying in bed for his third injury of the year - simultaneously taking part in an virtual card tournament.
The veteran football star eventually placed as runner-up, securing around seventy-three thousand pounds in tournament winnings.
It was limited solace on a day when he had to observe the player who previously succeeded him at Barcelona claim the award he had long hoped to win.
Since coming back to his boyhood club Santos in the new year, the experienced attacker has failed to live up to expectations, attracting more attention for comparable situations than for his football.
His return home after a dozen campaigns away was intended as a chance for him to regain his form and, most importantly, restore a love of football that seemed diminished after frustrating spells with Paris St-Germain and the Saudi club.
Instead, it has been largely underwhelming for everyone concerned.
Such is the situation that the primary concern being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will make it to 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]," Brazilian legend Tostao wrote in his regular feature.
On Wednesday, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed his team selection for the upcoming games against South Korea and Japan and, yet again, Neymar was excluded.
"O Principe", as he was nicknamed when received at Santos in a reference to 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 November games, which, in the most pessimistic outlook, will leave him with only two exhibition games in March 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 undisputed star, shouldering huge responsibility on his own," former AC Milan and Roma legend Cafu remarked.
"But nobody wins the World Cup single-handedly. Putting all our expectations on him at the moment is challenging 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 been absent for 47% of Santos' matches this season - 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, half have come against teams from lower tiers than Brazil's top flight - a scoring contribution against Agua Santa, followed by a goal and two assists versus Inter de Limeira, 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.
Despite that, Ancelotti has asserted that the forward has plenty of time to show he is ready for the World Cup.
"His aim must be to be ready in June. It isn't crucial if he's in the squad in autumn, November or spring," the Italian told French media.
Ancelotti caused local controversy last month by reportedly trying to shield Neymar, stating the star had been excluded from the team over physical condition issues.
But then Neymar himself disputed it, saying he "was left out for technical reasons; it has nothing to do with my physical condition."
In terms of popular view, it definitely didn't help for Neymar.
"If the player we have pinned our dreams on to deliver the World Cup is left out for performance issues, obviously there's a problem," Cafu said.
Will Neymar be capable of emulating Ronaldo in 2002?
Studies from a leading polling institute found that Brazilians are divided 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 improved his situation much with his behaviour on the pitch either.
He seems increased agitation than usual, having exchanged words with fans on several occasions in venues - it happened in three consecutive matches in July.
The next month, the forward was left in tears after Santos endured a six-goal loss at home by their rivals - the biggest loss of his career.
When asked by a journalist about his physical state in a post-match interview, he showed irritation: "Again with this, friend? I've responded to this 500 times already."
The identical inquiry has been posed to his parent representative Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's intention was to remain for a limited period at Santos. For what? To regain fitness. If Neymar was able to feature, so be it," he earlier stated, causing outrage among fans.
There's still a slight hope, however, that Neymar's prime period remain possible and that he will be able to revive his career the same way striker Ronaldo "Fenômeno" 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 no one else like Neymar," Ronaldo said during a recent appearance with the forward in the Brazilian city.
"It's an exaggeration from a small group who believe he's ignoring his physical recovery.
Anyone who have been in football knows perfectly how difficult it is to return from an injury and restore form and self-belief. He's progressing well."
The Santos star has a critical period ahead to demonstrate that he's not the heir who abandoned the throne.
