The Brazilian Undisputed Star? Neymar Jr's World Cup Countdown Challenge
As Ousmane Dembele was crowned the prestigious football award in the autumn months, Neymar was lying in bed for his latest physical setback of the year - simultaneously participating in an online poker tournament.
The 33-year-old football star eventually placed as second place, collecting 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 receive the award he had long hoped to win.
After returning to his youth team Santos in the new year, the experienced attacker has failed to live up to expectations, attracting more attention for similar incidents than for his football.
His homecoming after a dozen campaigns away was meant to be a chance for him to return to peak condition and, crucially, restore a passion for the game that seemed gone after frustrating spells with Paris St-Germain and the Saudi club.
Instead, it has been generally unsatisfactory for each stakeholder.
This reflects the situation that the main question being asked right now in Brazil is whether Neymar will be part of the 2026 World Cup.
He's running out of time.
"All players have to prove that they are prepared. The time is passing [for him]," Brazilian legend Tostao stated in his newspaper column.
On midweek, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed his squad for the upcoming games against Korea Republic and the Asian nation and, once again, Neymar was not in it.
"O Principe", 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 national team for two years.
He continues to be an fitness concern for the autumn fixtures, which, in the worst scenario, will leave him with only two friendly matches in spring 2026 to prove himself to Ancelotti before the revealing of the definitive squad for the World Cup.
"For 15 years, Neymar was Brazil's clear standout, shouldering enormous expectations on his own," Brazilian icon Cafu stated.
"But no one wins the World Cup alone. Placing all our hopes on him at the present time is problematic 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 nearly half of Santos' matches this campaign - but, when he was available for selection, he was a far cry from the player who during his prime rivaled the Argentine maestro 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 goal and two assists versus another lower-division opponent, all in the Sao Paulo State Championship.
As Santos fight relegation in the Brazilian first tier, the playmaker no longer seems to be the difference maker he once was.
Despite that, Ancelotti has maintained that the forward has ample opportunity to show he is ready for the World Cup.
"His objective must be to be ready in summer. It isn't crucial if he's in the squad in autumn, late autumn or March," the coach told L'Equipe newspaper.
Ancelotti created local discussion last month by allegedly attempting to protect Neymar, suggesting the star had been excluded from the team over fitness concerns.
But then Neymar himself challenged the claim, saying he "was excluded for tactical decisions; 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 placed all our hopes on to win the World Cup is excluded for performance issues, clearly something isn't right," Cafu commented.
Will Neymar be capable of emulating Ronaldo in 2002?
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 behaviour on the pitch either.
He seems increased agitation than usual, having argued with fans on several occasions in stadiums - it happened in three consecutive matches in mid-year.
The following month, the striker was left in tears after Santos suffered a 6-0 home defeat by their rivals - the heaviest defeat of his professional life.
When questioned by a journalist about his fitness condition in a game aftermath discussion, he also lost his patience: "Again with this, friend? I've responded to this repeatedly already."
The same kind of question has been directed at his father and agent Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's plan was to spend a limited period at Santos. For what? To regain fitness. If Neymar was able to feature, so be it," he previously explained, causing displeasure among fans.
There's still a slight hope, however, that Neymar's best days aren't over and that he will be able to revive his career the same way striker Ronaldo "Phenomenon" did in the 2002 World Cup to surmount skepticism and injuries to guide Brazil to the World Cup title.
The former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan legend observes similarities.
"He's a vital player for Brazil - there's nobody like Neymar," Ronaldo declared during a recent event with the forward in the Brazilian city.
"It's an overstatement from a small group who believe he's ignoring his fitness rehabilitation.
Those who have been in football recognize fully how hard it is to come back from an setback and restore rhythm and confidence. He's right on track."
The Santos star has a critical period ahead to prove that he's not the heir who relinquished his status.
