Neymar Suffers Injury in Second Al Hilal Appearance: What It Means for His Comeback

Neymar Suffers Injury

Neymar made his second appearance for Al Hilal on Monday, returning to action after a year-long recovery from an ACL tear. He came off the bench in the 58th minute during a 3-0 victory in an Asian Champions League Elite match. However, his return was short-lived, as he sustained a leg injury less than 30 minutes later while stretching for the ball in the penalty area, leading to his substitution.

Despite Neymar's early exit, Aleksandar Mitrovic delivered an impressive performance, scoring a hat trick that secured Al Hilal's position at the top of the league phase table in the Asian Champions League. The team's strong showing highlighted their ambitions in the tournament, even as they navigate Neymar's recovery process.

Neymar's initial appearance for Al Hilal was on October 21, but he had not played again until this latest match due to eligibility rules preventing him from participating in Saudi Pro League games until January. The club had adopted a cautious approach to his comeback, prioritizing his long-term health after his serious injury.

The Brazilian forward had suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay shortly after joining Al Hilal, necessitating surgery last November. This injury significantly impacted his ability to play and prompted the club to be careful in managing his return to competitive football.

Additionally, Neymar was left out of Brazil's squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in November. Coach Dorival expressed the team's desire not to rush his reintegration into international play, especially given Brazil's current position in the qualifying standings, sitting fourth and four points behind leaders Argentina after ten matches.

Neymar Suffers Injury in Second Al Hilal Appearance: What It Means for His Comeback