Neymar's Struggles and World Cup Aspirations
As Ousmane Dembélé was awarded the 2025 Ballon d'Or in late September, Neymar found himself confined to bed, undergoing treatment for his third injury of the year, while simultaneously participating in an online poker tournament.
The 33-year-old Brazilian star ultimately finished as the runner-up, earning approximately £73,800 in prize money. This was a small consolation on a day when he had to watch the player who once took his place at Barcelona receive the prestigious award he has long coveted.
Since returning to his boyhood club Santos in January, Neymar has struggled to meet expectations, garnering more attention for off-field incidents than for his performances on the pitch. His return after a 12-season absence was intended to reignite his passion for football, which seemed to fade during disappointing stints at Paris Saint-Germain and Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
However, the situation has been largely disappointing for all involved. Presently, the pressing question in Brazil is whether Neymar will make it to the 2026 World Cup. Time is running out for him.
"Even the stars have to prove that they are fit. The clock is ticking [for him]," wrote 1970 World Cup winner Tostão in his column for Folha de São Paulo.
On Wednesday, Brazil's head coach Carlo Ancelotti announced his squad for upcoming matches against South Korea and Japan, and once again, Neymar was absent. Dubbed "The Prince" upon his return to Santos, a nod to the legendary Pelé, Neymar has yet to play under Ancelotti, having been away from the national team for two years. His last appearance was in a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay in October 2023.
Moreover, he remains a doubt for the November matches, which could leave him with only two friendly games in March 2026 to prove his fitness to Ancelotti before the final World Cup squad is announced.
"For 15 years, Neymar was Brazil's undisputed star, carrying immense expectations and responsibilities alone," remarked former AC Milan and Roma legend Cafu. "But no one wins the World Cup alone. Relying solely on him at this moment is challenging, as he struggles to play three consecutive games."
'If Neymar is left out for technical reasons, something isn’t right'
Neymar's fitness issues have been significant since his return to Brazil, missing 47% of Santos' matches this season. When he has played, he has not resembled the player who once rivaled Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, leading PSG to pay a world-record fee of €222 million (£200 million) to Barcelona in 2017.
Of his nine goal contributions this season, five have come against teams from lower divisions in Brazil, including a goal and assist against Água Santa and a goal with two assists against Inter de Limeira, both in the São Paulo State Championship.
As Santos battles relegation in the Brazilian top tier, Neymar no longer appears to be the game-changer he once was, ranking only 50th in successful dribbles per game, according to Sofascore.
Despite these challenges, Ancelotti maintains that Neymar has ample time to demonstrate his readiness for the World Cup. "His goal must be to be ready in June. It doesn't matter if he's in the squad in October, November, or March," the Italian told L'Équipe.
Ancelotti sparked local controversy last month by allegedly trying to protect Neymar, stating the star was omitted from the squad due to fitness concerns. However, Neymar himself countered this, claiming he was excluded for technical reasons, unrelated to his physical condition. Ancelotti later acknowledged it was a "technical decision based on various factors."
This situation has not improved Neymar's public perception. "If the player we have placed all our hopes on to deliver the World Cup is left out for technical reasons, clearly something isn’t right," Cafu stated.
Will Neymar be capable of emulating Ronaldo in 2002?
Research from Datafolha, a prominent polling institute, indicates that Brazilians are divided on whether Neymar should be called up for his fourth World Cup. While 48% support his inclusion, 41% oppose it.
With 79 goals, Neymar is Brazil's all-time leading scorer, but his conduct on the field has not bolstered his case. He has appeared more agitated than usual, engaging in disputes with fans during three consecutive matches in July. In August, he was visibly emotional after Santos suffered a 6-0 home defeat to Vasco da Gama, marking the heaviest loss of his career.
When questioned about his fitness in a post-match interview, he lost his temper: "Again with this, mate? I’ve answered this 500 times already." Similar inquiries have also been directed at his father and agent, Neymar Sr., who explained that Neymar's plan was to spend five months at Santos to recover. This statement sparked outrage among supporters.
Despite the challenges, there remains a glimmer of hope that Neymar's best days are not behind him and that he can rejuvenate his career, similar to Ronaldo "Phenomenon" in 2002, who overcame criticism and injuries to lead Brazil to World Cup glory. Ronaldo himself sees parallels, stating, "He’s a crucial player for Brazil - there’s no one else like Neymar. It’s an exaggeration from a minority who believe he’s neglecting his physical recovery. Anyone who has been in football knows perfectly how hard it is to come back from an injury and regain rhythm and confidence. He’s right on track."
The Santos star faces a pivotal few months ahead to prove that he is not the prince who abandoned his throne.