The Brazilian Unquestioned Star? Neymar's Global Tournament Race Against Time
As Ousmane Dembele claimed the prestigious football award in the autumn months, the Brazilian sensation was receiving treatment for his third injury of the year - while engaging in an online poker tournament.
The 33-year-old Brazilian ace eventually placed as runner-up, securing around £73,800 in tournament winnings.
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.
After returning to his boyhood club Santos in January, the experienced attacker has fallen short of expectations, drawing more attention for episodes like this than for his football.
His homecoming after 12 seasons away was meant to be a chance for him to regain his form and, crucially, revive a passion for the game that seemed diminished after disappointing periods with Paris St-Germain and the Saudi club.
Instead, it has been widely disappointing for everyone concerned.
This reflects the situation that the key issue being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will be part of the 2026 World Cup.
He's running out of time.
"Even the stars have to prove that they are fit. The deadline approaches [for him]," Brazilian legend Tostao stated in his regular feature.
On Wednesday, Brazil head coach the Italian tactician revealed his squad for the upcoming games against South Korea and the Asian nation and, yet again, Neymar was excluded.
"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 24 months.
He also remains an fitness concern for the November games, which, in the most pessimistic outlook, will leave him with just a pair of friendly matches in March 2026 to prove himself to Ancelotti before the announcement of the definitive squad for the World Cup.
"For 15 years, Neymar was Brazil's unquestioned talisman, carrying enormous expectations on his own," former AC Milan and Roma legend Cafu stated.
"But nobody wins the World Cup single-handedly. Placing all our hopes on him at the present time 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 just has Neymar had multiple fitness issues since his homecoming - he's been absent for 47% of Santos' matches this campaign - but, when he was available for selection, he was a distant from the player who during his zenith dared to challenge Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Of his nine goal contributions so far, five have come against teams from divisions below Brazil's top flight - a goal and assist 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 top division, the playmaker no longer seems to be the decisive factor he once was.
Despite that, Ancelotti has maintained that the forward has ample opportunity to show he is ready 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 March," the Italian told L'Equipe newspaper.
Ancelotti caused local controversy last month by allegedly attempting to protect Neymar, claiming the star had been omitted from the team over fitness concerns.
But then Neymar himself disputed it, saying he "was excluded for tactical decisions; it has nothing to do with 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 left out for technical reasons, 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 fourth World Cup.
With his record tally, Neymar is Brazil's all-time top scorer, but he hasn't improved his situation much with his in-game attitude either.
He seems more on edge than normal, having argued with fans on several occasions in stadiums - it happened in successive games in July.
The following month, the forward was left in tears after Santos endured a six-goal home defeat by Vasco da Gama - the worst result of his career.
When asked by a reporter about his physical state in a post-match interview, he showed irritation: "This topic again, mate? I've responded to this 500 times already."
The identical inquiry has been directed at his father and agent Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's intention was to spend five months at Santos. To what end? To recover. If Neymar was able to feature, so be it," he previously explained, causing outrage among followers.
There's continuing belief, however, that Neymar's prime period 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 crucial player for Brazil - there's nobody like Neymar," Ronaldo declared during a recent appearance with the forward in the Brazilian city.
"It's an misrepresentation from a minority who believe he's ignoring his physical recovery.
Those who have been in football understand completely how difficult it is to recover 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 prince who stepped away from greatness.
