The Brazilian Undisputed Star? Neymar's Global Tournament Race Against Time
As the French winger claimed the prestigious football award in late September, Neymar was lying in bed for his third injury of the year - simultaneously engaging in an virtual card tournament.
The veteran Brazilian ace eventually placed as second place, securing around seventy-three thousand pounds in tournament winnings.
It was partial comfort on a day when he had to witness the player who once replaced him at Barcelona receive the award he had long hoped to win.
Since coming back to his boyhood club Santos in the new year, the 33-year-old forward has failed to live up to expectations, attracting more attention for episodes like this than for his football.
His homecoming after a dozen campaigns away was intended as a chance for him to regain his form and, crucially, revive a love of football that seemed lost after disappointing periods with PSG and Al Hilal.
Instead, it has been widely disappointing for each stakeholder.
This reflects the situation that the main question being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will make it to the upcoming global tournament.
He's running out of time.
"Even the stars have to prove that they are prepared. The deadline approaches [for him]," 1970 World Cup-winner Tostao wrote in his regular feature.
On midweek, Brazil head coach the Italian tactician disclosed his squad for the upcoming games against Korea Republic and Japan and, once again, Neymar was not in it.
"The Prince", as he was nicknamed when received at Santos in a nod toward the king Pele, is yet to play under Ancelotti, having been absent from the Selecao for two years.
He continues to be an fitness concern for the November games, which, in the worst scenario, will leave him with just a pair of exhibition games in spring 2026 to demonstrate his worth to Ancelotti before the revealing of the definitive squad for the World Cup.
"Over a decade and a half, Neymar was Brazil's undisputed star, carrying huge responsibility on his own," former AC Milan and Roma legend Cafu remarked.
"But nobody wins the World Cup single-handedly. Putting all our hopes on him at the moment is challenging because he finds it hard to even play multiple matches 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 homecoming - he's missed 47% of Santos' matches this season - but, when he was able to play, 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 divisions below 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 Brazilian first tier, the playmaker no longer seems to be the difference maker he previously represented.
Despite that, Ancelotti has maintained that the forward has sufficient months to show he is prepared for the World Cup.
"His goal must be to be prepared in summer. It isn't crucial if he's in the squad in autumn, late autumn or March," the coach told French media.
Ancelotti stirred local controversy last month by reportedly trying to protect 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 tactical decisions; it has nothing to do with my physical condition."
In terms of fan opinion, it definitely didn't help for Neymar.
"If the player we have placed all our hopes on to win the World Cup is excluded for technical reasons, evidently something isn't right," Cafu said.
Can Neymar follow Ronaldo's 2002 example?
Studies from Datafolha found that the Brazilian public are divided over whether Neymar should be included 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 behaviour on the pitch either.
He seems more on edge than usual, having argued with fans repeatedly in venues - it happened in three consecutive matches in mid-year.
The following month, the striker was reduced to crying after Santos suffered a six-goal home defeat by Vasco da Gama - the biggest loss of his professional life.
When asked by a reporter about his fitness condition in a post-match interview, he became frustrated: "This topic again, friend? I've responded to this 500 times already."
The same kind of question has been directed at his father and agent Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's intention was to remain for five months at Santos. To what end? To recover. If Neymar managed to play, so be it," he previously explained, causing displeasure among fans.
There's remaining optimism, however, that Neymar's prime period remain possible and that he will be able to return to prominence the same way forward Ronaldo "Fenômeno" did in 2002 to overcome doubt and injuries to guide Brazil to the championship trophy.
The former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan legend sees comparisons.
"He's a vital player for Brazil - there's nobody like Neymar," Ronaldo said during a recent appearance with the forward in Sao Paulo.
"It's an exaggeration from a minority who believe he's disregarding his fitness rehabilitation.
Those who have been in football recognize fully how challenging it is to come back from an setback and recover form and self-belief. He's moving forward."
The Brazilian forward has a critical period ahead to show that he's not the heir who abandoned the throne.
