🔗 Share this article Brazil's Unquestioned Superstar? Neymar's Global Tournament Race Against Time As the French winger was crowned the 2025 Ballon d'Or in the autumn months, Neymar was receiving treatment for his latest physical setback of the year - while engaging in an virtual card tournament. The 33-year-old Brazilian ace ultimately finished as second place, securing around £73,800 in prize money. It was limited solace on a day when he had to observe the player who previously succeeded him at Barcelona receive the award he had long hoped to win. After returning to his youth team Santos in the new year, the experienced attacker has fallen short of expectations, drawing more attention for episodes like this than for his football. His return home after a dozen campaigns away was intended as a chance for him to return to peak condition and, most importantly, restore a passion for the game that seemed gone 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 main question being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will participate in the 2026 World Cup. He's against the clock. "Even the stars have to prove that they are prepared. The deadline approaches [for him]," Brazilian legend Tostao stated in his regular feature. On Wednesday, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti disclosed his team selection for the upcoming games against South Korea and the Asian nation and, once again, Neymar was excluded. "The Prince", as he was dubbed when welcomed back at Santos in a reference to the legend Pelé, is yet to play under Ancelotti, having been missing from the national team for two years. He continues to be an injury doubt for the November games, which, in the worst scenario, will leave him with just a pair of exhibition games in spring 2026 to demonstrate his worth to Ancelotti before the announcement of the definitive squad for the World Cup. "Over a decade and a half, Neymar was Brazil's clear standout, carrying massive pressure on his own," Brazilian icon Cafu remarked. "But nobody wins the World Cup alone. Placing all our hopes on him at the moment is problematic because he has difficulty 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 homecoming - he's missed nearly half of Santos' matches this season - but, when he was available for selection, he was a far cry from the player who during his prime competed with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Of his several attacking returns so far, half have come against teams from divisions below 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 regional competition. As Santos battle against demotion in the top division, the playmaker 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. "His aim must be to be prepared in June. It isn't crucial if he's in the squad in October, late autumn or March," the coach told L'Equipe newspaper. Ancelotti caused local discussion last month by reportedly trying to shield Neymar, stating the star had been omitted from the team over physical condition issues. But then Neymar himself disputed it, saying he "was excluded for tactical decisions; it has no connection to my fitness level." In terms of fan opinion, it definitely didn't help for Neymar. "If the player we have placed all our hopes on to deliver the World Cup is left out for technical reasons, evidently there's a problem," Cafu observed. Is a Ronaldo-style comeback possible for Neymar? Research from Datafolha found that the Brazilian public are divided over whether Neymar should be selected 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 in-game attitude either. He seems greater frustration than normal, having exchanged words with fans multiple times in stadiums - it occurred in successive games in July. The next month, the striker was left in tears after Santos endured a six-goal home defeat by their rivals - the worst result of his professional life. When questioned by a journalist about his fitness condition in a game aftermath discussion, he also lost his patience: "Again with this, friend? I've responded to this countless times already." The same kind of question has been directed at his father and agent Neymar Sr as well. "Neymar's plan was to remain for five months at Santos. To what end? To recover. If Neymar managed to play, amen," he earlier stated, causing outrage among followers. There's remaining optimism, however, that Neymar's peak years haven't ended and that he will be able to return to prominence the same way striker Ronaldo "Fenômeno" did in 2002 to overcome skepticism and physical setbacks to lead Brazil to the World Cup title. The former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan legend notes comparisons. "He's a crucial player for Brazil - there's no one else like Neymar," Ronaldo said during a recent appearance with the forward in the Brazilian city. "It's an exaggeration from a minority who believe he's neglecting his physical recovery. Anyone who have been in football knows perfectly how challenging it is to return from an setback and regain form and self-belief. He's moving forward." The Brazilian forward has a important timeframe ahead to show that he's not the prince who abandoned the throne.