Neymar's Hope Of Appearing In The 2026 World Cup Is Small Along With Estevao's Awakening

JAKARTA - If we return to the end of January 2025, we will see Estevoo with four short appearances as a substitute, immediately spreading confidence that he is worthy of being included in the Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Neymar, the former Samba Team prince returned to Santos, where his football story began. Initially, he hoped his old club would give the stage to close this story with one last attempt to achieve glory at the 2026 World Cup.

However, 10 months later, things changed very differently. Estevevoo got stronger and got his first chance to play for Brazil in Carlo Ancelotti's debut game as coach.

He showed tremendous potential to become an integral part of the 2026 World Cup team, scoring five goals between September and November 2025.

It didn't stop there, Esteva scored a beautiful goal - from his weak leg - in Chelsea's 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, early morning WIB.

This further strengthens the point that Chelsea seem to have recruited Brazil's most brilliant talent since Neymar.

The story is different from Neymar. He has an unforgettable 2025, ending with the news this week that his knee injury is likely to see him out of the last three games of the season. With Santos in the relegation zone, that's bad news for him and the club.

Expectations may always be too high for several reasons. First, there is an extraordinary, even almost magical, Santos history.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Pele and his amazing supporting players formed a team that is arguably the greatest in the world, and of course the most pleasing to the eye.

The development of outstanding young players brings back the glory of the 21st century. The brilliant breakthrough seemed to grab twice when tiny-faced Neymar took them to the Copa Libertadores in 2011.

However, this history could be a burden for clubs representing less than half a million people.

As the financial gap widens, Santos is increasingly difficult to compete. In 2023, the first season since Pele's death, they have been relegated to second division (Serie B) for the first time.

They immediately bounced back. The hope is that Neymar's return will add to the positive momentum. Some people see them as potential title challengers, but their targets are too high.

The problem is, Neymar is still trying to recover from the serious knee injury he suffered while playing for Brazil in October 2023.

He was released from returning to Brazil after Jorge Jesus, his coach at Al Hilal, refused to register him for the club's league season. The coach said he was not fit enough.

In early 2025, Neymar was still unknown as a footballer. If that happens at the end of January 2025, it will still happen at the end of November 2025.

Judging as a player is still difficult. He was never able to draw up a series of matches that allowed him to achieve full fitness.

After a long absence, muscle problems can be anticipated, and he picked up an injury in April 2025 after several early rounds of Brazil's Serie A.

Neymar then missed two more matches before the break for the Club World Cup, followed by his absence from a series of nine matches for two months when the competition resumed in July 2025.

He was then out for another six weeks before returning early this month, but, which is worrying, given the initial problems, he suffered a knee injury that threatened to end his season.

Ancelotti several times emphasized that he was still marginalizing Neymar due to fitness problems. However, the attacker insists on playing in major tournaments in the United States, Canada, and Mexico later.

So frustrated, according to ESPN, Neymar will force himself to play for Santos in the last three league games

He was ready to play despite the pain to help Santos struggle to avoid relegation.

The Brazilian striker missed a 1-1 draw in the league against Internacional on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 WIB, as a precaution after experiencing discomfort in his left knee against Mirassol on November 20, 2025 WIB.

Brazil's ESPN reports that the 33-year-old will likely need artroscopy operations at the end of the season to treat meniscus injuries in his left knee.

However, Neymar chose to oppose medical advice. He trained on Wednesday, November 26, 20225, local time, with Santos and was included in the squad for the league match against Sport on Saturday, November 28, 2025 WIB.

He played almost full in the 3-0 win, and was replaced by Gabriel Bontemo in the 90th minute.

Amazingly, he contributed one goal to open Santos' lead in the 25th minute.

The decision has been taken even though the Santos Medical Department has advised against it. They want Neymar to continue conservative care in order to return to play in Santos' last two league games against Juventude and Cruzeiro.

However, Neymar is supported by President Santos, Marcelo Teixeira, who insists no decision will be made to affect the player's health.

"It's a matter of expectations and expectations. I'm not a doctor, and I also don't follow a decision that should be the exclusive authority of the health department."

"As I said, he trained well, felt nothing, we will evaluate it again. It is not the council that evaluates, but the club's professionals who evaluate this."

"There is a possibility, that's the expectation, without any sacrifice, nothing will harm the players or Santos. We want the players to be ready for a fight like this," said Teixeira.

Neymar has not lost the ability to see and execute baits that open the field, and his skills as a dead ball striker are maintained.

Neymar's most prominent characteristic is his ability to dribble, his ability to change course and accelerate at high speed.

This has not been seen because it is difficult for him to escape from his guard. However, seeing how hard he wanted to be called the Brazilian national team, it was not impossible that the ability that brought him to shine had re-emerged.

The next story is how he insisted on making Ancelotti back in control than spending the 2026 World Cup on the sidelines, watching Estevoo twist like he used to.