Back in late January, Estevao - who had only made four appearances as a substitute - was just a promise and a potential option for Brazil at the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, Neymar is still a certain thing.
The "Prince" was once on his way back to Santos - where the story began - and his former team was expected to become the launching pad for him to end his journey in a final effort towards World Cup glory.
10 months later, everything changed dramatically. Estevao has improved steadily and was given his first starting position in Carlo Ancelotti's debut as Brazilian coach. He is showing excellent form, becoming an almost irreplaceable factor in the plan towards the World Cup, with 5 goals scored from September to November.
And the stunning shot - with a weak foot - in the 3-0 win over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League only reinforced the belief that Chelsea seemed to have signed the best talent in Brazilian football since... Neymar.
Meanwhile, Neymar has gone through another forgettable year 2025, which ended with a knee injury that could see him sit out the final three games of the season. With Santos in a weak position in the relegation zone, this is clearly a big blow not only to him but also to the club.
Maybe the expectations for him are always too high and that comes from many reasons.
First of all, it is necessary to mention the extraordinary history, almost with the legendary color of Santos. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Pele and his excellent teammates created a team that was considered the greatest in the world, and certainly the most attractive.
Their prestigious youth training continued to be successful in the 21st century, and the flash seemed to shine again when Neymar - then still with a child face - appeared, leading the team to the 2011 Copa Libertador championship.
But that history could also be a burden for a club from a city of less than half a million people - too small compared to the standards of big teams in Brazil. As financial difficulties grow, Santos' competitiveness declines.
In 2023 - the first season after Pele passed away - they were relegated to the second division for the first time. Although he has immediately returned, many expectations are placed on Neymar's return to create a positive boost. Some fans even consider them a potential candidate for the championship. But in reality, that goal was beyond the team's ability.
This is even more true because Neymar is still trying to recover from the serious knee injury he suffered when wearing the Brazilian national team jersey in October 2023. He returned to Brazil in the context of Al-Hilal's Jorge Jesus refusing to register him for the domestic campaign. The reason given is very simple: Neymar is not physically fit enough to compete.
In early 2025, Neymar was still a mystery. If that was true at the end of January, then by the end of November he was still an open question. The assessment of Neymar at this time is too strict, because he has never had enough time to play continuously to reach the most satisfying state.
After a long break, muscle problems are understandable. And he was in a state of weakness in April, just a few rounds of Serie A Brazil.
Neymar has two more matches ahead of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup break, followed by a nine-match streak in two months when the tournament returns in July. Then he took a 6-week break before returning earlier this month. However, it is worrying that the knee injury - the initial problem - has recurred, threatening to end him the season early.
What happens if Santos is relegated? That is a question that makes the entire port city hold its breath. It remains unclear whether they will be able to keep Neymar, especially as complaints about cost-effectiveness are growing. But one thing is almost certain: from the second division, Neymar will not be able to return to the Brazilian national team. At that time, he was almost forced to immediately find a new destination.
Neymar's career has always been filled with ups and downs, just like his own emotional dribbles. And once again, he faced a major turn. If he does not act quickly, Neymar will most likely have to sit out and watch Estevao shine at the 2026 World Cup.
