The Brazilian Unquestioned Superstar? Neymar's World Cup Race Against Time
While the French winger was crowned the 2025 Ballon d'Or in the autumn months, Neymar was undergoing therapy for his latest physical setback of the year - while taking part in an online poker tournament.
The 33-year-old football star ultimately finished as runner-up, earning around £73,800 in prize money.
It was limited solace on a day when he had to watch the player who once replaced him at Barcelona lift the award he had consistently dreamed to win.
Since coming back to his boyhood club Santos in the new year, the experienced attacker has failed to live up to expectations, drawing more attention for similar incidents than for his football.
His homecoming after a dozen campaigns away was intended as a chance for him to regain his form and, most importantly, restore a passion for the game that seemed diminished after disappointing periods with PSG and the Saudi club.
Instead, it has been largely underwhelming for all parties involved.
This reflects the situation that the key issue being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will make it to 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]," 1970 World Cup-winner Tostao commented in his newspaper column.
On midweek, Brazil head coach the Italian tactician revealed his team selection for the upcoming games against South Korea and Japan and, yet again, Neymar was not in it.
"The Prince", as he was nicknamed when received at Santos in a reference to the king Pele, is yet to play under Ancelotti, having been missing from the Selecao for two years.
He also remains an fitness concern for the autumn fixtures, which, in the worst scenario, will leave him with just a pair of exhibition games 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 undisputed star, carrying massive pressure on his own," former AC Milan and Roma legend Cafu stated.
"But nobody wins the World Cup single-handedly. Putting all our hopes on him at the moment 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 just has Neymar had multiple fitness issues since his return to Brazil - he's missed 47% of Santos' matches this season - but, when he was able to play, he was a different to the player who during his zenith competed with the Argentine maestro and the Portuguese icon.
Of his nine goal contributions so far, five 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 Brazilian first tier, the number 10 no longer seems to be the difference maker he previously represented.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti has asserted that the forward has ample opportunity to show he is ready for the World Cup.
"His goal must be to be ready in June. It isn't crucial if he's in the squad in autumn, late autumn or spring," the coach told French media.
Ancelotti stirred local debate last month by allegedly attempting to shield Neymar, stating the star had been omitted from the team over physical condition issues.
But then Neymar himself contradicted this, saying he "was excluded for tactical decisions; it has no connection to my physical condition."
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 excluded for technical reasons, clearly issues exist," Cafu commented.
Will Neymar be capable of emulating Ronaldo in 2002?
Research from Datafolha found that Brazilians are split 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 helped his case much with his behaviour on the pitch either.
He seems more on edge than usual, having exchanged words with fans repeatedly in venues - it occurred in successive games in July.
The next month, the forward was emotional after Santos suffered a 6-0 home defeat by Vasco da Gama - the biggest loss of his professional life.
When asked by a journalist about his fitness condition in a post-match interview, he showed irritation: "This topic again, friend? I've answered this countless times already."
The same kind of question has been posed to his father and agent Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's strategy was to spend five months at Santos. To what end? To recover. If Neymar was able to feature, amen," he previously explained, causing anger among fans.
There's still a slight hope, however, that Neymar's best days haven't ended and that he will be able to return to prominence the same way striker Ronaldo "Phenomenon" did in 2002 to surmount skepticism and injuries to guide Brazil to the World Cup title.
The former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan legend sees parallels.
"He's a vital player for Brazil - there's no one else like Neymar," Ronaldo said during a recent appearance with the forward in Sao Paulo.
"It's an misrepresentation from a minority who believe he's disregarding his physical recovery.
Those who have been in football recognize fully how challenging it is to come back from an injury and recover form and self-belief. He's moving forward."
The Brazilian forward has a critical period ahead to prove that he's not the heir who stepped away from greatness.
