While Ousmane Dembele received the prestigious football award in the autumn months, Neymar was receiving treatment for his latest physical setback of the year - simultaneously engaging in an virtual card tournament.
The 33-year-old Brazilian ace ultimately finished as second place, securing around seventy-three thousand pounds in tournament winnings.
It was partial comfort on a day when he had to witness the player who once replaced him at Barcelona receive the award he had consistently dreamed to win.
Since returning to his youth team Santos in the new year, the 33-year-old forward has failed to live up to expectations, drawing more attention for comparable situations than for his on-field performances.
His homecoming after 12 seasons away was meant to be a chance for him to regain his form and, crucially, restore a love of football that seemed diminished after frustrating spells with PSG and the Saudi club.
Conversely, it has been largely underwhelming for all parties involved.
This reflects the situation that the main question being asked right now in Brazil is if Neymar will be part of the 2026 World Cup.
He's running out of time.
"Even the stars have to demonstrate that they are fit. The clock is ticking [for him]," Brazilian legend Tostao wrote in his regular feature.
On Wednesday, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti announced his team selection for the forthcoming matches against South Korea and Japan and, yet again, Neymar was excluded.
"The Prince", as he was dubbed when received at Santos in a reference to the legend Pelé, is still awaiting his debut under Ancelotti, having been absent from the national team for 24 months.
He continues to be an fitness concern for the November games, which, in the worst scenario, will leave him with only two friendly matches in spring 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 unquestioned talisman, bearing enormous expectations on his own," Brazilian icon Cafu said.
"But no one wins the World Cup alone. Putting all our expectations on him at the moment is problematic because he struggles to even play three games in a row."
Not only has Neymar had multiple fitness issues since his return to Brazil - he's missed nearly half of Santos' matches this campaign - but, when he was able to play, he was a distant from the player who during his zenith competed with the Argentine maestro and the Portuguese icon.
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 Sao Paulo State Championship.
As Santos battle against demotion in the top division, the playmaker no longer seems to be the difference maker he once was.
Despite that, Ancelotti has asserted that the forward has ample opportunity to show he is prepared for the World Cup.
"His objective must be to be prepared in June. It doesn't matter if he's in the squad in October, late autumn or March," the coach told French media.
Ancelotti stirred local controversy last month by allegedly attempting to protect Neymar, suggesting the star had been omitted from the team over fitness concerns.
But then Neymar himself challenged the claim, saying he "was left out for technical reasons; it has nothing to do with my fitness level."
In terms of fan opinion, it undoubtedly worsened the situation for Neymar.
"If the player we have invested our faith in to win the World Cup is excluded for technical reasons, evidently something isn't right," Cafu observed.
Polls from Datafolha found that the Brazilian public are divided over whether Neymar should be included for his next global tournament.
With his 79 goals, Neymar is Brazil's all-time top scorer, but he hasn't helped his case much with his in-game attitude either.
He seems greater frustration than usual, having exchanged words with fans on several occasions in venues - it happened in successive games in July.
The next month, the striker was emotional after Santos endured a six-goal home defeat by their rivals - the heaviest defeat of his professional life.
When questioned by a journalist about his physical state in a game aftermath discussion, he also lost his patience: "This topic again, mate? I've responded to this countless times already."
The similar query has been posed to his parent representative Neymar Sr as well.
"Neymar's strategy was to remain for five months at Santos. For what? To regain fitness. If Neymar was able to feature, so be it," he earlier stated, causing displeasure among followers.
There's still a slight hope, however, that Neymar's peak years haven't ended and that he will be able to revive his career the same way striker Ronaldo "Phenomenon" did in 2002 to overcome criticism and injuries to lead Brazil to the championship trophy.
The former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan legend sees similarities.
"He's a vital player for Brazil - there's no one else like Neymar," Ronaldo said during a recent appearance with the forward in the Brazilian city.
"It's an exaggeration from a small group who believe he's ignoring his fitness rehabilitation.
Anyone who have been in football understand completely how hard it is to return from an setback and restore form and self-belief. He's progressing well."
The Santos star has a few decisive months ahead to prove that he's not the prince who relinquished his status.
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