The Brazilian Undisputed Star? Neymar Jr's World Cup Race Against Time
As the French winger claimed the prestigious football award in the autumn months, Neymar was lying in bed for his third injury of the year - while engaging in an online poker tournament.
The veteran Brazilian ace ultimately finished as second place, earning around £73,800 in prize money.
It was partial comfort on a day when he had to witness the player who previously succeeded him at Barcelona receive the award he had long hoped to win.
After coming back to his boyhood club Santos in January, the experienced attacker has fallen short of expectations, drawing more attention for comparable situations than for his football.
His homecoming after 12 seasons away was intended as a chance for him to regain his form and, crucially, revive a love of football that seemed lost after disappointing periods with PSG and the Saudi club.
Conversely, it has been widely disappointing for each stakeholder.
Such is the situation that the key issue being asked right now in Brazil is whether Neymar will participate in the upcoming global tournament.
He's facing a deadline.
"Even the stars have to prove that they are prepared. The time is passing [for him]," Brazilian legend Tostao stated in his regular feature.
On Wednesday, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed his squad for the forthcoming matches against South Korea and Japan and, once again, Neymar was not in it.
"The Prince", as he was nicknamed when received at Santos in a reference to the legend Pelé, is still awaiting his debut under Ancelotti, having been missing from the national team for two years.
He also remains an injury doubt for the November games, which, in the worst scenario, will leave him with only two exhibition games in March 2026 to prove himself to Ancelotti before the revealing of the definitive squad for the World Cup.
"For 15 years, Neymar was Brazil's undisputed star, shouldering huge responsibility on his own," former AC Milan and Roma legend Cafu stated.
"But no one wins the World Cup alone. Placing all our hopes on him at the present time is difficult because he finds it hard to even play multiple matches in a row."
'Technical exclusion raises serious questions about Neymar'
Not just has Neymar had multiple fitness issues since his return to Brazil - he's been absent for 47% of Santos' matches this season - but, when he was able to play, he was a far cry from the player who during his prime rivaled the Argentine maestro and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Of his several attacking returns so far, five have come against teams from divisions below Brazil's first division - a scoring contribution against Agua Santa, followed by a goal and two assists versus Inter de Limeira, all in the regional competition.
As Santos fight relegation in the top division, the playmaker no longer seems to be the decisive factor he once was.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti has insisted that the forward has ample opportunity to show he is ready for the World Cup.
"His goal must be to be prepared in summer. It isn't crucial if he's in the squad in autumn, late autumn or spring," the coach told L'Equipe newspaper.
Ancelotti created local controversy last month by reportedly trying to protect Neymar, stating the star had been excluded from the team over physical condition issues.
But then Neymar himself challenged the claim, saying he "was excluded for technical reasons; it has nothing to do with my fitness level."
In terms of fan opinion, it definitely didn't help for Neymar.
"If the player we have invested our faith in to deliver the World Cup is excluded for performance issues, obviously there's a problem," Cafu said.
Will Neymar be capable of emulating Ronaldo in 2002?
Studies from Datafolha found that Brazilians are divided over whether Neymar should be called up 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 greater frustration than usual, having argued with fans repeatedly in stadiums - it occurred in three consecutive matches in mid-year.
The next month, the striker was left in tears after Santos endured a 6-0 home defeat by their rivals - the biggest loss of his professional life.
When questioned by a journalist about his physical state in a game aftermath discussion, he showed irritation: "This topic again, friend? I've answered this 500 times already."
The same kind of question has been directed at his father and agent Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's strategy was to remain for a limited period at Santos. To what end? To regain fitness. If Neymar was able to feature, so be it," he earlier stated, causing displeasure among fans.
There's remaining optimism, however, that Neymar's peak years haven't ended and that he will be able to resurrect his form the same way striker Ronaldo "Phenomenon" did in 2002 to surmount skepticism and physical setbacks to lead Brazil to the World Cup title.
The Brazilian great notes similarities.
"He's a essential player for Brazil - there's no one else like Neymar," Ronaldo stated during a recent appearance with the forward in the Brazilian city.
"It's an overstatement from a minority who believe he's disregarding his fitness rehabilitation.
Those who have been in football knows perfectly how difficult it is to come back from an injury and restore rhythm and confidence. He's moving forward."
The Brazilian forward has a critical period ahead to show that he's not the prince who abandoned the throne.
