Neymar Returns To Action For Al Hilal After A Year Out

The wait is over, one year on, Neymar is back on the pitch. The Brazilian came on in the second half of Al Hilal’s match against Al Ain on Monday in the Asian Champions League.

Neymar made his long-anticipated return in the 77th minute, coming on for Nasser Al Dawsari right after Al Hilal had taken a 5-3 lead.

The Brazilian almost scored in one of his first moves, with a left-footed cross. The match finished with Al Hilal winning 5-4.

Neymar had been sidelined since October 17, 2023, when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Brazil’s World Cup qualifying loss to Uruguay in Montevideo. Following the injury, he underwent surgery and faced a lengthy recovery process.

Neymar’s last game for Al Hilal was on October 3rd last year, in a 3-0 win over Iran’s Nassaji Mazandaran, also in the Asian Champions League. It was in that match that the Brazilian scored his only goal for the Saudi club.

National team on the radar

This Monday’s match is expected to be one of Neymar’s few appearances before the Brazilian national team’s upcoming World Cup qualifying games against Venezuela and Uruguay in November.

This is because the striker is not registered in the Saudi League, so he can only play in the Champions League and the Saudi King’s Cup until December 2024.

Dorival Junior is set to announce his squad on November 1st. In the meantime, Neymar is limited to playing in the King’s Cup match between Al Taee and Al Hilal on October 29th.

To be in the final squad, however, the player needs to be on Dorival’s shortlist, which will be sent to the clubs by October 27th.

Between the final call-up and the Selecao’s matches in November, Neymar also has the chance to play against Esteghlal in Iran on November 4th in the AFC Champions League.