Brazil's Unquestioned Star? Neymar Jr's Global Tournament Countdown Challenge

While the French winger received the prestigious football award in late September, Neymar was undergoing therapy for his third injury of the year - while taking part in an online poker tournament.

The veteran football star eventually placed as runner-up, collecting around seventy-three thousand pounds in tournament winnings.

It was partial comfort 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 returning to his boyhood club Santos in January, the experienced attacker has fallen short of expectations, attracting more attention for similar incidents than for his football.

His homecoming after 12 seasons away was meant to be a chance for him to regain his form and, most importantly, rekindle a love of football that seemed diminished after disappointing periods with Paris St-Germain and the Saudi club.

Conversely, it has been widely disappointing for everyone concerned.

This reflects the situation that the main question being asked right now in Brazil is whether Neymar will make it to the 2026 World Cup.

He's facing a deadline.

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 excluded.

"The Prince", as he was nicknamed when welcomed back at Santos in a reference to the legend Pelé, is still awaiting his debut under Ancelotti, having been absent from the national team for 24 months.

He also remains an fitness concern for the November games, which, in the worst scenario, 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.

"But no one wins the World Cup alone. Putting all our hopes on him at the moment is problematic because he finds it hard to even play three games in a row."

Not only has Neymar had multiple fitness issues since his return to Brazil - he's missed 47% of Santos' matches this campaign - but, when he was available for selection, he was a different to the player who during his zenith competed with 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 goal and two assists versus another lower-division opponent, all in the regional competition.

As Santos fight relegation in the top division, the number 10 no longer seems to be the decisive factor he previously represented.

Nevertheless, Ancelotti has asserted that the forward has ample opportunity to show he is ready for the World Cup.

Ancelotti created local controversy last month by allegedly attempting to protect Neymar, claiming the star had been excluded from the team over physical condition issues.

But then Neymar himself challenged the claim, saying he "was left out for technical reasons; it has no connection to my fitness level."

In terms of fan opinion, it undoubtedly worsened the situation for Neymar.

Research from a leading polling institute found that the Brazilian public are split over whether Neymar should be included for his next global tournament.

With his 79 goals, Neymar is Brazil's historical leading marksman, but he hasn't improved his situation much with his in-game attitude either.

He seems greater frustration than normal, having confronted fans multiple times in venues - it happened in successive games in July.

The following month, the striker was left in tears after Santos suffered a six-goal home defeat by their rivals - the worst result of his professional life.

When asked by a journalist about his fitness condition in a game aftermath discussion, he also lost his patience: "Again with this, mate? I've answered this countless times already."

The similar query has been posed to his father and agent Neymar Sr as well.

"Neymar's plan was to spend a limited period at Santos. For what? To recover. If Neymar managed to play, amen," he previously explained, causing outrage among supporters.

There's continuing belief, however, that Neymar's peak years haven't ended and that he will be able to resurrect his form the same way striker Ronaldo "Fenômeno" did in the 2002 World Cup to overcome doubt and physical setbacks to guide Brazil to the World Cup title.

The Brazilian great observes similarities.

"It's an exaggeration from a minority who believe he's ignoring his fitness rehabilitation.

Anyone who have been in football understand completely how challenging it is to recover from an setback and regain form and self-belief. He's right on track."

The Brazilian forward has a important timeframe ahead to prove that he's not the heir who stepped away from greatness.