As the French winger received the 2025 Ballon d'Or in late September, Neymar was receiving treatment for his third injury of the year - simultaneously participating in an online poker tournament.
The veteran Brazilian ace eventually placed as second place, securing around £73,800 in tournament winnings.
It was some consolation on a day when he had to watch the player who once replaced him at Barcelona claim the award he had consistently dreamed to win.
After coming back to his boyhood club Santos in the new year, the 33-year-old forward has failed to live up to expectations, attracting more attention for similar incidents than for his on-field performances.
His homecoming after a dozen campaigns away was intended as a chance for him to rediscover his best and, crucially, revive a passion for the game that seemed gone after frustrating spells with PSG and the Saudi club.
Instead, it has been widely disappointing for everyone concerned.
This reflects the situation that the key issue being asked right now in Brazil is whether Neymar will participate in the 2026 World Cup.
He's running out of time.
"Even the stars have to prove that they are prepared. The deadline approaches [for him]," Brazilian legend Tostao commented in his newspaper column.
On Wednesday, Brazil head coach the Italian tactician announced his team selection for the upcoming games against South Korea and Japan and, once again, Neymar was excluded.
"O Principe", as he was nicknamed when welcomed back 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 most pessimistic outlook, will leave him with just a pair of exhibition games in March 2026 to prove himself to Ancelotti before the announcement of the final list for the World Cup.
"Over a decade and a half, Neymar was Brazil's clear standout, bearing enormous expectations on his own," Brazilian icon Cafu said.
"But nobody wins the World Cup alone. Placing all our expectations on him at the moment is difficult because he struggles to even play multiple matches in a row."
Not only has Neymar had various physical concerns since his homecoming - he's been absent for 47% of Santos' matches this campaign - but, when he was available for selection, he was a far cry from the player who during his prime rivaled Lionel Messi and the Portuguese icon.
Of his several attacking returns so far, five have come against teams from divisions below Brazil's first division - a goal and assist against Agua Santa, followed by a three goal involvements versus another lower-division opponent, all in the regional competition.
As Santos battle against demotion in the top division, the number 10 no longer seems to be the decisive factor he previously represented.
Nevertheless, Ancelotti has maintained that the forward has sufficient months to show he is prepared 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, late autumn or spring," the Italian told L'Equipe newspaper.
Ancelotti created local debate last month by allegedly attempting to shield Neymar, claiming the star had been excluded from the team over fitness concerns.
But then Neymar himself disputed it, saying he "was excluded for tactical decisions; it has no connection to my fitness level."
In terms of fan opinion, it certainly didn't make it any better for Neymar.
"If the player we have pinned our dreams on to deliver the World Cup is excluded for technical reasons, evidently there's a problem," Cafu observed.
Polls from a leading polling institute found that Brazilians are split over whether Neymar should be selected for his fourth World Cup.
With his record tally, Neymar is Brazil's historical leading marksman, but he hasn't helped his case much with his in-game attitude either.
He seems greater frustration than normal, having confronted fans repeatedly in venues - it happened in successive games in July.
The following month, the striker was left in tears after Santos endured a six-goal loss at home by Vasco da Gama - the heaviest defeat of his professional life.
When asked by a journalist about his fitness condition in a post-match interview, he became frustrated: "This topic again, mate? I've responded to this repeatedly 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 regain fitness. If Neymar managed to play, amen," he previously explained, causing outrage among fans.
There's remaining optimism, however, that Neymar's peak years haven't ended and that he will be able to revive his career the same way forward Ronaldo "Phenomenon" did in 2002 to overcome doubt and physical setbacks to guide Brazil to the championship trophy.
The Brazilian great observes parallels.
"He's a vital player for Brazil - there's nobody like Neymar," Ronaldo said during a recent appearance with the forward in the Brazilian city.
"It's an exaggeration from a minority who believe he's ignoring his fitness rehabilitation.
Those who have been in football recognize fully how difficult it is to come back from an injury and regain rhythm and confidence. He's right on track."
The Santos star has a critical period ahead to demonstrate that he's not the prince who stepped away from greatness.
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