The Brazilian Unquestioned Star? Neymar's World Cup Countdown Challenge
While Ousmane Dembele received the prestigious football award in the autumn months, the Brazilian sensation was undergoing therapy for his latest physical setback of the year - simultaneously participating in an online poker tournament.
The 33-year-old Brazilian ace eventually placed as runner-up, collecting around £73,800 in prize money.
It was limited solace 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 returning to his boyhood club Santos in January, the experienced attacker has failed to live up to expectations, attracting more attention for episodes like this than for his football.
His return home after a dozen campaigns away was meant to be a chance for him to return to peak condition and, crucially, rekindle a love of football that seemed diminished after frustrating spells with Paris St-Germain and Al Hilal.
Conversely, it has been largely underwhelming for each stakeholder.
This reflects 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 demonstrate that they are fit. The deadline approaches [for him]," Brazilian legend Tostao stated in his newspaper column.
On midweek, Brazil head coach the Italian tactician announced his squad for the forthcoming matches against Korea Republic and the Asian nation and, yet again, Neymar was absent.
"O Principe", as he was nicknamed when welcomed back at Santos in a reference to the king Pele, is still awaiting his debut under Ancelotti, having been missing from the national team for two years.
He continues to be an injury doubt for the autumn fixtures, which, in the most pessimistic outlook, will leave him with only two friendly matches in March 2026 to prove himself to Ancelotti before the announcement of the final list for the World Cup.
"For 15 years, Neymar was Brazil's clear standout, shouldering enormous expectations on his own," Brazilian icon Cafu said.
"But nobody wins the World Cup alone. Putting all our hopes on him at the moment is problematic because he has difficulty to even play multiple matches in a row."
'Omission based on skill level signals deeper issues'
Not only has Neymar had various physical concerns since his return to Brazil - he's been absent for 47% of Santos' matches this season - but, when he was available for selection, he was a different to the player who during his prime competed with the Argentine maestro and the Portuguese icon.
Of his several attacking returns so far, half 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 Sao Paulo State Championship.
As Santos fight relegation in the Brazilian first tier, 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 prepared for the World Cup.
"His goal must be to be ready 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 stirred local debate 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 disputed it, saying he "was excluded for technical reasons; it has nothing to do with my physical condition."
In terms of public perception, it undoubtedly worsened the situation for Neymar.
"If the player we have pinned our dreams on to deliver the World Cup is left out for technical reasons, evidently there's a problem," Cafu said.
Can Neymar follow Ronaldo's 2002 example?
Polls from a leading polling institute 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 historical leading marksman, but he hasn't improved his situation much with his in-game attitude either.
He seems greater frustration than usual, having confronted fans on several occasions in venues - it occurred in successive games in mid-year.
The following month, the forward was emotional after Santos suffered a 6-0 home defeat by their rivals - the biggest loss of his professional life.
When questioned by a reporter about his fitness condition in a post-match interview, he became frustrated: "Again with this, friend? I've responded to this 500 times already."
The same kind of question has been directed at his parent representative Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's strategy was to spend a limited period at Santos. For what? To regain fitness. If Neymar managed to play, amen," he previously explained, causing outrage among followers.
There's still a slight hope, however, that Neymar's best days haven't ended and that he will be able to resurrect his form the same way striker Ronaldo "Fenômeno" did in 2002 to overcome doubt and injuries to lead Brazil to the World Cup title.
The former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan legend sees parallels.
"He's a vital player for Brazil - there's no one else like Neymar," Ronaldo declared during a recent event with the forward in Sao Paulo.
"It's an exaggeration from a minority who believe he's disregarding his fitness rehabilitation.
Those who have been in football understand completely how difficult it is to recover from an setback and regain rhythm and confidence. He's progressing well."
The Santos star has a few decisive months ahead to demonstrate that he's not the prince who stepped away from greatness.
