Al-Ain. After more than a year of absence due to a serious injury, Neymar returned to play in official competition this Monday when he entered the 77th minute of the Asian Champions League match won 5-4 by his team, Al-Hilal, against al Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
The 32-year-old Brazilian star injured the cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee on October 17, 2023, playing with his national team in a 2026 World Cup qualification match against Uruguay.
“Spread the word: The legend Neymar is back,” the Saudi club said on Twitter.
Neymar did not have time to show many things, although he had a chance in the 87th minute. Served deep, the Brazilian had a one-two with the Serbian Aleksandar Mitrovic but his cross shot went wide, brushed by the Al-Ain goalkeeper.
“When I brought on Neymar the score was 5-3, we were two goals ahead, there were spaces. But the red card (received by Al Bulayhi) came just after the substitution, which deprived us of an attacker because Mitrovic had to retire (89), so we had less offensive power,” explained Al-Hilal’s Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus.
Before his injury, Neymar only played five games for the Saudi team, which he joined in August 2023 from PSG with a salary of around 100 million euros per season ($108 million).
“I know they are impatient, so am I, and on October 21 I will be back,” Neymar said in a video posted online on Sunday. “I’ve come back every time I’ve been injured and I don’t come back halfway,” he added.
Neymar has set several goals until the next World Cup, which will be organized by the United States, Mexico and Canada. His evolution in the coming weeks could lead to the next call-up for the Brazilian national team, in November.
The absence of the Brazilian has not affected the results of his club, which won the Saudi championship for the nineteenth time last season. The Seleçao regained form in the recent October window with victories over Chile (2-1) and Peru (4-0).
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