Brazil's Undisputed Superstar? Neymar Jr's Global Tournament Countdown Challenge

While the French winger was crowned the prestigious football award in the autumn months, Neymar was receiving treatment for his third injury of the year - while participating in an online poker tournament.

The veteran Brazilian ace ultimately finished as second place, collecting around £73,800 in prize money.

It was partial comfort on a day when he had to witness the player who once replaced him at Barcelona lift the award he had consistently dreamed to win.

After coming back to his youth team Santos in January, the experienced attacker has fallen short of expectations, attracting more attention for comparable situations than for his on-field performances.

His return home after 12 seasons away was intended as a chance for him to return to peak condition and, most importantly, revive a passion for the game that seemed gone after disappointing periods with PSG and the Saudi club.

Instead, it has been widely disappointing for everyone concerned.

Such is the situation that the main question being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will participate in the upcoming global tournament.

He's facing a deadline.

On midweek, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti disclosed his team selection for the upcoming games against Korea Republic and the Asian nation and, yet again, Neymar was not in it.

"O Principe", as he was dubbed when received at Santos in a nod toward the king Pele, 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 most pessimistic outlook, will leave him with only two friendly matches in spring 2026 to prove himself to Ancelotti before the revealing of the definitive squad for the World Cup.

"But nobody wins the World Cup single-handedly. Putting all our hopes on him at the present time is challenging because he struggles to even play multiple matches in a row."

Not only has Neymar had various physical concerns since his homecoming - he's missed nearly half of Santos' matches this season - but, when he was able to play, he was a different to the player who during his zenith dared to challenge the Argentine maestro and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Of his nine goal contributions so far, half have come against teams from lower tiers than Brazil's first division - a goal and assist 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 playmaker no longer seems to be the difference maker he once was.

Nevertheless, Ancelotti has maintained that the forward has plenty of time to show he is ready for the World Cup.

Ancelotti stirred local debate 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 contradicted this, saying he "was excluded for tactical decisions; it has no connection to my fitness level."

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

Polls from Datafolha found that Brazilians are divided 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 usual, having exchanged words with fans multiple times in stadiums - it occurred in three consecutive matches in July.

The following month, the striker was left in tears after Santos endured a six-goal loss at home by their rivals - the heaviest defeat of his career.

When asked by a reporter about his fitness condition in a game aftermath discussion, he also lost his patience: "This topic again, friend? I've answered this 500 times already."

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

"Neymar's strategy was to remain for a limited period at Santos. For what? To regain fitness. If Neymar managed to play, so be it," he previously explained, 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 revive his career the same way forward Ronaldo "Fenômeno" did in the 2002 World Cup to surmount criticism and injuries to lead Brazil to the World Cup title.

The Brazilian great sees parallels.

"It's an overstatement from a small group who believe he's disregarding his fitness rehabilitation.

Anyone who have been in football knows perfectly how difficult it is to come back from an injury and restore form and self-belief. He's right on track."

The Santos star has a important timeframe ahead to show that he's not the heir who abandoned the throne.