Brazil's Undisputed Star? Neymar Jr's Global Tournament Countdown Challenge
While Ousmane Dembele claimed the 2025 Ballon d'Or in late September, Neymar was lying in bed for his third injury of the year - while engaging in an virtual card tournament.
The 33-year-old Brazilian ace eventually placed as second place, earning around £73,800 in tournament winnings.
It was some consolation on a day when he had to observe the player who previously succeeded him at Barcelona claim the award he had consistently dreamed to win.
Since returning to his youth team Santos in the new year, the 33-year-old forward has failed to live up to expectations, attracting more attention for similar incidents than for his on-field performances.
His homecoming after 12 seasons away was meant to be a chance for him to rediscover his best and, most importantly, revive a love of football that seemed diminished after disappointing periods with Paris St-Germain and the Saudi club.
Conversely, it has been widely disappointing for everyone concerned.
This reflects the situation that the main question being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will be part of the upcoming global tournament.
He's running out of time.
"Even the stars have to demonstrate that they are prepared. The deadline approaches [for him]," 1970 World Cup-winner Tostao commented in his newspaper column.
On Wednesday, Brazil manager the Italian tactician disclosed his team selection for the upcoming games against South Korea and the Asian nation and, yet again, Neymar was not in it.
"O Principe", as he was dubbed when welcomed back at Santos in a reference to the legend Pelé, is still awaiting his debut under Ancelotti, having been absent from the national team for 24 months.
He also remains an fitness concern for the autumn fixtures, which, in the most pessimistic outlook, will leave him with only two friendly matches in spring 2026 to prove himself to Ancelotti before the revealing of the final list for the World Cup.
"Over a decade and a half, Neymar was Brazil's clear standout, bearing huge responsibility on his own," Brazilian icon Cafu said.
"But nobody wins the World Cup single-handedly. Placing all our hopes on him at the moment is difficult because he struggles to even play three games in a row."
'Omission based on skill level signals deeper issues'
Not just has Neymar had multiple fitness issues since his homecoming - he's been absent for nearly half of Santos' matches this campaign - but, when he was able to play, he was a distant from the player who during his zenith competed with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Of his several attacking returns so far, five have come against teams from lower tiers than Brazil's first division - a scoring contribution against Agua Santa, followed by a goal and two assists versus another lower-division opponent, all in the Sao Paulo State Championship.
As Santos battle against demotion in the Brazilian first tier, the playmaker no longer seems to be the game-changer he previously represented.
Despite that, Ancelotti has insisted that the forward has plenty of time to show he is prepared for the World Cup.
"His goal must be to be ready in June. It isn't crucial if he's in the squad in October, November or March," the Italian told L'Equipe newspaper.
Ancelotti caused local discussion last month by reportedly trying to shield Neymar, suggesting the star had been excluded from the team over physical condition issues.
But then Neymar himself contradicted this, saying he "was excluded for technical reasons; it has no connection to my fitness level."
In terms of fan opinion, it undoubtedly worsened the situation for Neymar.
"If the player we have invested our faith in to win the World Cup is excluded for performance issues, clearly there's a problem," Cafu commented.
Is a Ronaldo-style comeback possible for Neymar?
Polls from a leading polling institute found that Brazilians are divided over whether Neymar should be included for his next global tournament.
With his record tally, Neymar is Brazil's historical leading marksman, but he hasn't improved his situation much with his behaviour on the pitch either.
He seems more on edge than usual, having argued with fans multiple times in stadiums - it happened in successive games in mid-year.
The following month, the striker was emotional after Santos endured a six-goal home defeat by their rivals - the heaviest defeat of his professional life.
When asked by a reporter about his physical state in a game aftermath discussion, he also lost his patience: "Again with this, friend? I've answered this countless times already."
The identical inquiry has been posed to his parent representative Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's strategy was to spend five months at Santos. For what? To recover. If Neymar managed to play, amen," he earlier stated, causing displeasure among fans.
There's remaining optimism, however, that Neymar's prime period haven't ended and that he will be able to resurrect his form the same way forward Ronaldo "Phenomenon" did in the 2002 World Cup to surmount doubt and injuries to guide Brazil to the World Cup title.
The Brazilian great sees parallels.
"He's a essential player for Brazil - there's nobody like Neymar," Ronaldo declared during a recent event with the forward in Sao Paulo.
"It's an exaggeration from a small group who believe he's neglecting his fitness rehabilitation.
Those who have been in football recognize fully how hard it is to come back from an injury 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 relinquished his status.
