🔗 Share this article Brazil's Unquestioned Superstar? Neymar Jr's Global Tournament Countdown Challenge As Ousmane Dembele was crowned the 2025 Ballon d'Or in late September, Neymar was undergoing therapy for his latest physical setback of the year - simultaneously engaging in an online poker tournament. The 33-year-old football star eventually placed as runner-up, earning around seventy-three thousand pounds in tournament winnings. It was limited solace on a day when he had to watch the player who once replaced him at Barcelona receive the award he had consistently dreamed to win. Since returning to his boyhood club Santos in the new year, the experienced attacker has fallen short of expectations, attracting more attention for episodes like this than for his football. His homecoming after 12 seasons away was intended as a chance for him to regain his form and, most importantly, revive a love of football that seemed lost after disappointing periods with PSG and the Saudi club. Instead, it has been widely disappointing for everyone concerned. This reflects the situation that the main question being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will be part of the upcoming global tournament. He's facing a deadline. "Even the stars have to demonstrate that they are prepared. The clock is ticking [for him]," 1970 World Cup-winner Tostao stated in his regular feature. On midweek, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti announced his team selection for the forthcoming matches against South Korea and Japan and, once again, Neymar was not in it. "O Principe", as he was dubbed when received at Santos in a nod toward the legend Pelé, is still awaiting his debut under Ancelotti, having been absent from the Selecao for two years. He continues to be an injury doubt for the autumn fixtures, which, in the worst scenario, will leave him with only two exhibition games in March 2026 to prove himself to Ancelotti before the announcement of the final list for the World Cup. "Over a decade and a half, Neymar was Brazil's undisputed star, bearing massive pressure on his own," Brazilian icon Cafu stated. "But nobody wins the World Cup single-handedly. Placing all our hopes on him at the present time is problematic because he has difficulty to even play three games in a row." 'Technical exclusion raises serious questions about Neymar' Not just has Neymar had various physical concerns since his homecoming - he's missed nearly half of Santos' matches this campaign - but, when he was able to play, he was a far cry from the player who during his prime dared to challenge the Argentine maestro and Cristiano Ronaldo. Of his several attacking returns so far, five have come against teams from lower tiers than Brazil's first division - a goal and assist against a lower-league side, followed by a goal and two assists versus Inter de Limeira, all in the Sao Paulo State Championship. As Santos fight relegation in the Brazilian first tier, the number 10 no longer seems to be the game-changer he once was. Despite that, Ancelotti has asserted that the forward has ample opportunity to show he is prepared for the World Cup. "His goal must be to be ready in summer. It doesn't matter if he's in the squad in October, late autumn or spring," the Italian told L'Equipe newspaper. Ancelotti caused local controversy last month by reportedly trying to protect Neymar, claiming the star had been omitted from the team over fitness concerns. But then Neymar himself challenged the claim, saying he "was left out for technical reasons; it has nothing to do with my physical condition." In terms of public perception, it certainly didn't make it any better for Neymar. "If the player we have placed all our hopes on to deliver the World Cup is left out for technical reasons, obviously issues exist," Cafu commented. Is a Ronaldo-style comeback possible for Neymar? Polls from Datafolha found that the Brazilian public are divided over whether Neymar should be selected for his fourth World Cup. With his 79 goals, Neymar is Brazil's historical leading marksman, but he hasn't helped his case much with his behaviour on the pitch either. He seems greater frustration than normal, having exchanged words with fans repeatedly in venues - it occurred in successive games in July. The next month, the striker was reduced to crying after Santos suffered a 6-0 loss at home by their rivals - the worst result of his professional life. When questioned by a journalist about his physical state in a game aftermath discussion, he became frustrated: "Again with this, friend? I've responded to this 500 times already." The identical inquiry has been posed to his parent representative Neymar Sr as well. "Neymar's plan was to remain for a limited period at Santos. To what end? To recover. If Neymar managed to play, amen," he earlier stated, causing anger among followers. There's remaining optimism, however, that Neymar's peak years remain possible and that he will be able to revive his career the same way striker Ronaldo "Fenômeno" did in 2002 to overcome criticism and physical setbacks to guide Brazil to the championship trophy. The Brazilian great observes parallels. "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 overstatement from a small group who believe he's disregarding his fitness rehabilitation. Those who have been in football understand completely how difficult it is to recover from an injury and recover rhythm and confidence. He's right on track." The Santos star has a critical period ahead to demonstrate that he's not the prince who stepped away from greatness.