Five years without a sustained rest, the Barcelona and Brazil star could benefit from sitting out of this year's Copa America Centenario.
Since 2010, when current Brazil coach Dunga elected not to take him to South Africa, it is to Neymar that the Selecao have looked.
For half a decade he has shouldered what is arguably the biggest responsibility in football. Five-time world champions, a -if not the - symbol of the world game, he has carried the expectations of a nation, of 200 million who accept nothing but victory.
"When you begin to stand out in any team, the responsibility increases," Zico told Brasil Global Tour last month.