Brazil's Unquestioned Superstar? Neymar Jr's World Cup Countdown Challenge

While Ousmane Dembele was crowned the 2025 Ballon d'Or in the autumn months, the Brazilian sensation was undergoing therapy for his latest physical setback of the year - simultaneously engaging in an virtual card tournament.

The 33-year-old Brazilian ace eventually placed as runner-up, securing around seventy-three thousand pounds in prize money.

It was some consolation on a day when he had to witness the player who once replaced him at Barcelona receive the award he had long hoped to win.

After coming back to his boyhood club Santos in January, the 33-year-old forward has fallen short of expectations, attracting more attention for comparable situations than for his on-field performances.

His homecoming after a dozen campaigns away was meant to be a chance for him to rediscover his best and, crucially, revive a passion for the game that seemed gone after frustrating spells with Paris St-Germain and the Saudi club.

Conversely, it has been widely disappointing for everyone concerned.

Such is the situation that the primary concern being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will make it to the upcoming global tournament.

He's running out of time.

On midweek, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti announced his squad for the upcoming games against South Korea and the Asian nation and, once again, Neymar was excluded.

"O Principe", 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 missing from the national team for 24 months.

He continues to be an fitness concern for the autumn fixtures, which, in the most pessimistic outlook, will leave him with only two exhibition games in spring 2026 to demonstrate his worth to Ancelotti before the announcement of the final list for the World Cup.

"But no one wins the World Cup alone. Placing all our expectations on him at the present time is challenging because he finds it hard to even play multiple matches in a row."

Not only 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 prime dared to challenge Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Of his several attacking returns so far, half have come against teams from lower tiers than Brazil's first division - a scoring contribution against Agua Santa, followed by a three goal involvements versus Inter de Limeira, all in the Sao Paulo State Championship.

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

Despite that, Ancelotti has insisted that the forward has ample opportunity to show he is prepared for the World Cup.

Ancelotti stirred local discussion last month by allegedly attempting to shield Neymar, suggesting the star had been omitted from the team over physical condition issues.

But then Neymar himself disputed it, saying he "was left out for tactical decisions; it has no connection to my fitness level."

In terms of popular view, it definitely didn't help for Neymar.

Studies from Datafolha 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 all-time top scorer, but he hasn't helped his case much with his behaviour on the pitch either.

He seems more on edge than usual, having argued with fans on several occasions in stadiums - it occurred in three consecutive matches in July.

The following month, the striker was left in tears after Santos endured a 6-0 loss at home by Vasco da Gama - the heaviest defeat of his career.

When asked by a journalist about his physical state in a game aftermath discussion, he also lost his patience: "Again with this, mate? I've responded to this 500 times already."

The same kind of question has been posed to his parent representative Neymar Sr as well.

"Neymar's intention was to spend a limited period at Santos. For what? To recover. If Neymar was able to feature, so be it," he earlier stated, causing anger among supporters.

There's still a slight hope, however, that Neymar's peak years aren't over and that he will be able to return to prominence the same way striker Ronaldo "Phenomenon" did in the 2002 World Cup to overcome skepticism and physical setbacks to guide Brazil to the World Cup title.

The former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan legend observes comparisons.

"It's an misrepresentation from a minority who believe he's ignoring 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 few decisive months ahead to demonstrate that he's not the heir who stepped away from greatness.