Editorial
- Neymar made his first appearance for Al-Hilal after recovering from an ACL and meniscus injury.
- He came on as a substitute in the 77th minute during Al-Hilal’s 5-4 win over Al-Ain in the Asian Champions League.
- Neymar sustained the injury while playing for Brazil in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023.
- The forward, who joined Al-Hilal from PSG for €90m, missed nearly a year due to his recovery.
Brazilian forward Neymar made a long-awaited return to the field for Al-Hilal after spending over a year sidelined due to a serious knee injury. The 32-year-old entered the game as a substitute in the 77th minute during his team’s thrilling 5-4 victory over UAE’s Al-Ain in the Asian Champions League.
Neymar’s injury occurred on October 17, 2023, during Brazil’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, where he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and damaged his meniscus. Following surgery in November 2023, Neymar faced a lengthy recovery, missing out on several months of competitive football.
The Brazilian forward, who holds the record as Brazil’s all-time male top goalscorer, made his return by coming close to scoring in a counter-attack, but Al-Ain regained possession and pulled a late goal back in the match. Despite this, Al-Hilal managed to secure the win.
Neymar moved to Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for a reported fee of €90m (£77.6m) in August 2023. However, before his injury, he only made five appearances for the Saudi Arabian club. His time at PSG was also plagued by ankle injuries, which kept him out of action for extended periods during his last two seasons with the French giants.
Neymar’s return to the pitch marks a significant milestone in his recovery, bringing renewed hope to Al-Hilal and his fans. After a long and challenging recovery process, the Brazilian star is now poised to make an impact as he continues to regain his form.
