The Brazilian Unquestioned Star? Neymar Jr's World Cup Countdown Challenge
As the French winger received the 2025 Ballon d'Or in late September, Neymar was receiving treatment for his latest physical setback of the year - while participating in an online poker tournament.
The 33-year-old football star eventually placed as runner-up, earning around seventy-three thousand pounds in tournament winnings.
It was limited solace on a day when he had to watch the player who previously succeeded him at Barcelona lift the award he had long hoped to win.
Since 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 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 love of football that seemed diminished after disappointing periods with PSG and Al Hilal.
Conversely, it has been widely disappointing for everyone concerned.
This reflects the situation that the primary concern 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 prepared. The time is passing [for him]," Brazilian legend Tostao stated in his regular feature.
On midweek, Brazil manager the Italian tactician disclosed his squad for the upcoming games against South Korea and Japan and, yet again, Neymar was excluded.
"O Principe", 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 also remains an fitness concern for the autumn fixtures, which, in the most pessimistic outlook, will leave him with just a pair of exhibition games 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 clear standout, bearing huge responsibility on his own," former AC Milan and Roma legend Cafu stated.
"But nobody wins the World Cup single-handedly. Placing all our hopes 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 just has Neymar had various physical concerns since his homecoming - he's been absent for nearly half of Santos' matches this season - but, when he was available for selection, he was a distant from the player who during his peak dared to challenge Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Of his several attacking returns so far, half have come against teams from lower tiers than Brazil's first division - a scoring contribution against a lower-league side, followed by a three goal involvements versus another lower-division opponent, all in the Sao Paulo State Championship.
As Santos battle against demotion in the top division, the playmaker no longer seems to be the difference maker he once was.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti has maintained that the forward has plenty of time to show he is ready for the World Cup.
"His goal must be to be prepared in June. It doesn't matter if he's in the squad in autumn, November or spring," the coach told L'Equipe newspaper.
Ancelotti stirred local debate last month by allegedly attempting to shield Neymar, stating the star had been excluded from the team over physical condition issues.
But then Neymar himself challenged the claim, saying he "was left out for technical reasons; it has nothing to do with my physical condition."
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 win the World Cup is left out for technical reasons, evidently issues exist," Cafu said.
Can Neymar follow Ronaldo's 2002 example?
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 record tally, Neymar is Brazil's all-time top scorer, but he hasn't helped his case much with his conduct during matches either.
He seems greater frustration than normal, having confronted fans on several occasions in stadiums - it happened in three consecutive matches in mid-year.
The following month, the striker was emotional after Santos suffered a six-goal loss at home by Vasco da Gama - the biggest loss of his career.
When questioned by a reporter about his physical state in a post-match interview, he showed irritation: "This topic again, mate? I've answered this countless times already."
The similar query has been posed to his father and agent Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's intention was to spend a limited period at Santos. For what? To regain fitness. If Neymar was able to feature, so be it," he earlier stated, causing anger among followers.
There's remaining optimism, however, that Neymar's best days remain possible and that he will be able to resurrect his form the same way forward Ronaldo "Phenomenon" did in 2002 to surmount criticism and injuries to lead 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 nobody like Neymar," Ronaldo said during a recent appearance with the forward in Sao Paulo.
"It's an misrepresentation from a small group who believe he's ignoring his physical recovery.
Those who have been in football understand completely how difficult it is to come back from an injury and regain 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 relinquished his status.
