Neymar enjoyed his long-awaited return to professional football on Monday night, coming on in a second-half cameo for Al Hilal 370 days after tearing his ACL.
The 32-year-old forward sustained the serious damage to his knee whilst on international duty with Brazil a year ago, pulling up on the cusp of half-time during a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay. Neymar had only completed his €90m (£77.6m) move to Al Hilal two months earlier, making five appearances and scoring just one goal for the dominant continental force before he was put out of action.
More than 12 months later, the club’s record signing was back on the pitch. Neymar was afforded just the final 13 minutes of a bonkers AFC Champions League group game against Al Ain, watching on from the touchline as Salem Al Dawsari completed his hat-trick to put the visitors into a 5-3 lead, before replacing Nasser Al-Dawsari.
Within five minutes of Neymar’s introduction, Al Hilal centre-back Ali Al Bulayhi was sent off, forcing the Saudi champions to defend their lead for the remainder of the contest.
The Brazilian spearheaded a late counter-attack, exchanging passes with Aleksandar Mitrovic before drilling a low left-footed shot towards the far corner which Al Ain’s Khalid Eisa did very well to tip beyond the post.
The Brazilian Legend is back 🔙
𝐍𝐉🔟💙 @neymarjr pic.twitter.com/4IX5WRvNMW— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) October 21, 2024
The UAE club, led by Argentine icon Hernan Crespo, pulled it back to 5-4 in stoppage time, but Neymar’s side managed to hold on to three points and preserve the club’s perfect start to the season.
Speaking after the match, Neymar beamed: “I feel good… I always have a good team. I’m so happy. I’m back! I’m back!”
The Brazilian won’t be back in domestic competition until January at the earliest as Al Hilal have already registered their full quota of foreign players for the first half of the season. Only eight non-Saudi players born after 2003 can be named in each squad.
Neymar can, however, continue to play in the AFC Champions League – one of the few competitions which Al Hilal failed to win last season. Jorge Jesus’ side made it to last season’s semi-finals where they were dumped out by Al Ain.
Al Hilal are next in continental action against Iranian outfit Esteghlal FC on 4 November. Neymar could then link up with the Brazil national team for next month’s World Cup qualifiers. The desperately out-of-form South American giants travel to Venezuela on 14 November before hosting Uruguay, the opponent against which Neymar sustained his severe knee injury all those months ago.
