The Brazilian Undisputed Star? Neymar's Global Tournament Countdown Challenge
While the French winger claimed the prestigious football award in the autumn months, the Brazilian sensation was undergoing therapy for his third injury of the year - while engaging in an online poker tournament.
The veteran Brazilian ace ultimately finished as runner-up, collecting around £73,800 in prize money.
It was some consolation on a day when he had to observe the player who once replaced him at Barcelona receive the award he had consistently dreamed to win.
After coming back to his boyhood club Santos in January, the experienced attacker has fallen short of expectations, attracting more attention for episodes like this than for his on-field performances.
His homecoming after 12 seasons away was intended as a chance for him to regain his form and, most importantly, restore a passion for the game that seemed diminished after frustrating spells with PSG and Al Hilal.
Instead, it has been widely disappointing for all parties involved.
This reflects the situation that the main question being asked right now in Brazil is whether Neymar will be part of the 2026 World Cup.
He's against the clock.
"Even the stars have to prove that they are prepared. The clock is ticking [for him]," Brazilian legend Tostao wrote in his regular feature.
On midweek, Brazil manager the Italian tactician revealed his team selection for the forthcoming matches against South Korea and the Asian nation and, yet again, Neymar was absent.
"The Prince", as he was nicknamed when welcomed back at Santos in a reference to 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 just a pair of exhibition games in March 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," former AC Milan and Roma legend Cafu stated.
"But nobody wins the World Cup single-handedly. Putting all our expectations on him at the present time is problematic because he struggles to even play multiple matches in a row."
'If Neymar is left out for technical reasons, something isn't right'
Not only has Neymar had repeated injury problems since his homecoming - he's been absent for nearly half of Santos' matches this season - but, when he was available for selection, he was a distant 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 lower tiers than Brazil's top flight - a goal and assist against a lower-league side, followed by a goal and two assists versus another lower-division opponent, all in the regional competition.
As Santos fight relegation in the Brazilian first tier, the playmaker no longer seems to be the difference maker he once was.
Despite that, Ancelotti has asserted that the forward has sufficient months to show he is ready for the World Cup.
"His objective must be to be ready in summer. It doesn't matter if he's in the squad in autumn, November or March," the Italian told L'Equipe newspaper.
Ancelotti stirred local controversy 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 left out for technical reasons; it has nothing to do with my physical condition."
In terms of popular view, it definitely didn't help for Neymar.
"If the player we have pinned our dreams on to win the World Cup is left out for technical reasons, evidently issues exist," Cafu said.
Is a Ronaldo-style comeback possible for Neymar?
Polls from Datafolha found that the Brazilian public are split over whether Neymar should be included for his fourth World Cup.
With his record tally, Neymar is Brazil's all-time top scorer, but he hasn't helped his case much with his conduct during matches either.
He seems more on edge than normal, having exchanged words with fans on several occasions in stadiums - it occurred in successive games in mid-year.
The next month, the striker was emotional after Santos suffered a 6-0 loss at home by their rivals - the worst result of his career.
When questioned by a reporter 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 parent representative Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's strategy was to spend five months at Santos. To what end? To recover. If Neymar was able to feature, amen," he previously explained, causing outrage among fans.
There's continuing belief, however, that Neymar's best days haven't ended and that he will be able to return to prominence the same way striker Ronaldo "Phenomenon" did in 2002 to overcome doubt and injuries to guide Brazil to the championship trophy.
The Brazilian great observes comparisons.
"He's a crucial 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 small group who believe he's ignoring his fitness rehabilitation.
Anyone who have been in football recognize fully how challenging it is to return from an injury and regain form and self-belief. He's right on track."
The Santos star has a few decisive months ahead to prove that he's not the prince who stepped away from greatness.
