Brazil's Unquestioned Star? Neymar's World Cup Race Against Time
While Ousmane Dembele was crowned the 2025 Ballon d'Or in the autumn months, Neymar was undergoing therapy for his third injury of the year - while taking part in an virtual card tournament.
The 33-year-old Brazilian ace 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 witness the player who once replaced him at Barcelona claim the award he had long hoped to win.
Since returning to his boyhood club Santos in the new year, the experienced attacker has fallen short of expectations, drawing more attention for similar incidents than for his on-field performances.
His homecoming after a dozen campaigns away was meant to be a chance for him to regain his form and, most importantly, rekindle a love of football that seemed lost after frustrating spells with Paris St-Germain and Al Hilal.
Conversely, it has been generally unsatisfactory for all parties involved.
This reflects the situation that the key issue being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will participate in the upcoming global tournament.
He's running out of time.
"All players have to demonstrate that they are prepared. The time is passing [for him]," 1970 World Cup-winner Tostao commented in his newspaper column.
On Wednesday, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti disclosed his team selection for the forthcoming matches against South Korea and the Asian nation and, yet again, Neymar was absent.
"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 Selecao for two years.
He continues to be an fitness concern for the November games, which, in the most pessimistic outlook, will leave him with only two friendly matches in March 2026 to demonstrate his worth 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, shouldering enormous expectations on his own," Brazilian icon Cafu remarked.
"But nobody wins the World Cup alone. Putting all our expectations on him at the present time is challenging because he has difficulty to even play multiple matches 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 season - but, when he was available for selection, he was a distant from the player who during his prime dared to challenge Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Of his several attacking returns so far, five have come against teams from lower tiers than Brazil's top flight - a goal and assist against a lower-league side, followed by a three goal involvements versus another lower-division opponent, all in the regional competition.
As Santos battle against demotion in the top division, the number 10 no longer seems to be the game-changer he once was.
Despite that, Ancelotti has insisted that the forward has plenty of time to show he is fit 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 created 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 fitness level."
In terms of public perception, it undoubtedly worsened the situation for Neymar.
"If the player we have placed all our hopes on to deliver the World Cup is left out for performance issues, evidently there's a problem," Cafu observed.
Can Neymar follow Ronaldo's 2002 example?
Studies from a leading polling institute found that the Brazilian public are split over whether Neymar should be selected for his next global tournament.
With his record tally, Neymar is Brazil's historical leading marksman, but he hasn't helped his case much with his in-game attitude either.
He seems greater frustration than normal, having exchanged words with fans multiple times in stadiums - it occurred in three consecutive matches in July.
The next month, the forward was reduced to crying after Santos suffered a 6-0 home defeat by their rivals - the worst result of his professional life.
When questioned by a journalist about his fitness condition in a game aftermath discussion, he also lost his patience: "This topic again, friend? I've responded to this countless times already."
The similar query 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 recover. 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 aren't over and that he will be able to return to prominence the same way striker Ronaldo "Fenômeno" did in the 2002 World Cup to overcome doubt and physical setbacks to lead Brazil to the World Cup title.
The former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan legend sees parallels.
"He's a essential player for Brazil - there's no one else like Neymar," Ronaldo declared during a recent appearance with the forward in Sao Paulo.
"It's an misrepresentation from a minority who believe he's neglecting his physical recovery.
Anyone who have been in football knows perfectly how difficult it is to recover from an injury and restore rhythm and confidence. He's right on track."
The Santos star has a important timeframe ahead to demonstrate that he's not the heir who relinquished his status.
