The Brazilian footballer Neymar returned to the pitch in an exciting match between Al Hilal and Al Ain during the third round of the AFC Champions League. This was his first appearance since injuring the ACL in his left knee during a match between Brazil and Uruguay in the World Cup qualifiers of Conmebol in September 2023. Coach Jorge Jesus decided to send Neymar onto the field in the 76th minute when Al Hilal was leading 5-3, replacing Nasser Al Dawsari, who scored a hat trick.
After a long and hard recovery lasting 369 days, 32-year-old Neymar finally returned to professional play. Although his performance was modest, he managed to take a shot on goal that went wide after a combination with Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Neymar's next step will be to continue participating in the AFC Champions League, as it is currently the only competition he can play in. His return to the field on October 21 was a reason for joy for both the player and his fans. His upcoming commitments are scheduled for November 4 and 6, as well as December 3 of this year.
Although Neymar cannot play in the Saudi League or the Saudi King's Cup for the remainder of the year due to Al Hilal covering all its foreign player spots, it is expected that he will be active with the Brazilian National Team. The Brazilian coaching staff has been awaiting his recovery and may consider calling him up for the November FIFA Date, during which Brazil will face Venezuela and Uruguay. The Canarinha is currently in fourth place in the World Cup qualifiers with 16 points, having won five matches, drawn one, and lost four.
