For over a decade, Neymar Jr. was the heartbeat of Brazilian football — a genius whose magic and charisma made him the face of a nation’s footballing dreams. But at 33, the superstar finds himself battling decline, frustration, and the reality of life outside the Brazil national team, now led by legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Once a global symbol of flair and excellence, Neymar’s story has taken a sobering turn. His recent struggles at Santos and explosive behaviour during a 3–2 loss to Flamengo have underscored the widening gap between the legend he once was and the player he has become.
Frustration Boils Over at Santos
During the fiery league clash against Flamengo, Neymar’s emotions got the better of him. The Brazilian forward clashed with referee Sávio Pereira Sampaio after a disputed corner led to Flamengo’s opening goal. He was shown a yellow card in the 36th minute, and later accused the referee of being “arrogant” and “disrespectful.”
> “The referee is very bad. Besides being bad, he’s arrogant,” Neymar said post-match. “When I talk to him, he threatens me. He said, ‘If you come near me, I’ll give you a yellow card.’ I asked, ‘Can’t I talk to you?’
As the game slipped away, coach Fábio Carille decided to substitute Neymar in the 81st minute, with Santos trailing 3–0. The decision infuriated the forward, who exchanged heated words with the bench before storming off the pitch.
For a player used to being the focal point, it was a humbling sight — a fallen star visibly battling the frustration of his diminishing influence.
Ancelotti’s New Brazil: A Team Moving On
While Neymar struggles for rhythm at home, Brazil has begun to march forward under Carlo Ancelotti, one of football’s most respected tacticians. Since taking charge, the Italian maestro has carefully reshaped the Seleção — blending youthful energy with discipline and tactical structure.
In this new system, Neymar’s name has been missing. The former talisman has been out of the Brazil squad for several months, with Ancelotti citing fitness, form, and technical balance as the main reasons for his exclusion.
Ancelotti, however, has made it clear that the door isn’t fully closed:
“When Neymar is in good physical condition, he has the quality to play not only in Brazil but in any team in the world,” Ancelotti said.
“It’s a technical decision. Nobody can question Neymar’s talent, but physical fitness and balance are essential. If Neymar is in good condition, he can fit into the national team.”
With a new generation of stars — Vinícius Jr., Rodrygo, Martinelli, and Endrick — thriving under Ancelotti’s system, the team has adopted a fast, fluid, and pressing-oriented style that relies more on structure than individual improvisation. For now, Neymar doesn’t fit that puzzle.
A Career of Greatness and Gaps
From Santos to Barcelona, PSG, and back again, Neymar’s career has sparkled with moments of brilliance and heartbreak alike.
He was the jewel of Santos’ youth academy — a teenage prodigy who lit up the Brazilian league with jaw-dropping dribbles and goals. His move to Barcelona in 2013 made him a global superstar, forming the legendary MSN trio with Messi and Suárez, winning the Champions League and treble in 2014–15.
In 2017, he shook the football world with a record-breaking €222 million transfer to PSG — a move designed to make him the best in the world. While he delivered iconic performances and led PSG to a Champions League final in 2020, injuries, off-field controversies, and inconsistency often shadowed his brilliance.
For Brazil, Neymar remains the joint all-time top scorer, tied with Pelé — a symbol of his immense impact. Yet, the elusive World Cup dream remains unfulfilled, with injuries derailing his campaigns in 2014, 2018, and 2022.
Then came another dramatic turn — a lucrative move to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia in 2023. The transfer, seen as part of Saudi football’s mega-project, was meant to rejuvenate Neymar’s career and elevate the league’s global profile. However, fate had other plans. Just a few matches into his Al Hilal stint, Neymar suffered a severe ACL injury, sidelining him for months and curbing the momentum he desperately needed.
Fighting the Decline
Returning to Santos in 2025 was meant to be a storybook homecoming — a hero returning to his roots to inspire a new generation. Instead, it has been a reality check. His recent form, fitness issues, and emotional outbursts paint a picture of a player caught between nostalgia and frustration.
Meanwhile, Ancelotti’s Brazil continues to thrive without him, signalling a clear generational shift. But Neymar’s legacy still casts a long shadow. Even Ancelotti has admitted that if Neymar finds full fitness and consistency, “there will always be a place for a player of his quality.”
For now, however, Neymar’s task is simple — rediscover the passion and control that once made him unstoppable.
At 33, he stands at a crossroads: fight his way back into form and force Ancelotti to look his way again, or fade quietly into memory as Brazil’s most gifted yet unfulfilled modern superstar.
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