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Brazilian forward Neymar made his long-awaited return for Al-Hilal, coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute during his side’s thrilling 5-4 victory over Al-Ain in the Asian Champions League. This was Neymar’s first appearance in over a year, following surgery on a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus in his left knee.
The 32-year-old, Brazil’s all-time top male goalscorer, suffered the injury on 17 October 2023 while playing for Brazil in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. He underwent surgery the following month.
Neymar nearly capped his return with a goal during a swift counter-attack by Al-Hilal, but Al-Ain recovered possession before scoring a late goal. Neymar, who joined Al-Hilal from Paris St-Germain in August 2023 for around €90 million (£77.6m), was sidelined for most of his first season with the Saudi club due to his injury. Prior to his ACL injury, he had made five appearances for the club.
Despite his extended absence, Neymar’s return has reignited excitement among Al-Hilal fans as they look to capitalize on his star power in their upcoming matches.
