Frank Christian
Neymar has made a triumphant return to competitive football after a lengthy absence of 370 days.
The 32-year-old took to the field once again for Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League on October 21.
In an exciting match filled with action, the Saudi champions triumphed over Al Ain with a score of 5-4, featuring two hat-tricks, a penalty, and a red card.
“I feel good,” Neymar expressed after the game. “I always have a good team. I’m so happy. I’m back! I’m back!”
Welcome back, Neymar
The 32-year-old Brazilian returns to the pitch 12 months after suffering an ACL tear pic.twitter.com/clVdcXNs85
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 21, 2024
Neymar spent the past year recovering from knee surgery and admitted to feeling quite nervous before his return. Given the nature of his injury and the fact that he will be turning 33 next February, many wondered if this could mark the end of his illustrious career. This made his on-field return a highly anticipated event for fans.
This article explores his comeback performance, what happened to him last year, and when he might be back with the Brazil national team.
Neymar’s Performance Upon Return
Neymar made his comeback in Al Hilal’s AFC Champions League match against UAE’s Al Ain, coming on as a substitute for Nasser Al-Dawsari in the 77th minute, just after Salem Aldawsari scored his third goal to put the team ahead 5-3.
The match took a dramatic turn shortly after Neymar entered, as Ali Albulayhi received a red card in the 82nd minute for a handball. Nearly scoring a sixth goal soon after his arrival, Neymar’s shot narrowly missed the target.
“They’re celebrating, they’re doing Jogo bonito, they’re doing samba, they’re doing all the sorts of parades” @ChrisWittyngham and @MikeLahoud react to Neymar’s return from his ACL injury after 9-plus months. pic.twitter.com/Ljm9qOMZxP
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 21, 2024
Despite being sidelined for such a lengthy period, Neymar showed flashes of his former self, nearly assisting a goal with a well-placed left-footed cross.
During his brief time on the pitch, he completed four out of five passes and successfully executed one out of two dribbles, although his contributions were somewhat restricted due to Al Hilal being a player down.
Al Ain managed to convert a late penalty, with Soufiane Rahimi scoring his hat-trick from the spot, but Al Hilal secured the victory.
Neymar’s Stats in Return Match
*Stats via Fotmob
| Minutes played | 13 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Shots | 1 |
| Passes (completed) | 5 (4) |
| Touches | 13 |
| Dribbles (completed) | 2 (1) |
| Duels won/lost | 1/4 |
Details of Neymar’s Injury
Neymar incurred a significant knee injury during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay on October 17, 2023.
While attempting to tackle Nicolas de la Cruz, he fell awkwardly and signaled to the bench in distress. Subsequent medical evaluations revealed tears in both his ACL and meniscus, necessitating surgery. As a result, he missed the entire 2023/24 club season, alongside the Copa America in 2024.
He returned to team training at the start of October this year.
Neymar’s Future with the Brazil National Team
Per Brazilian site UOL, Brazil’s coaching staff observed Neymar’s return on television. Head coach Dorival Junior has urged caution regarding Neymar’s reintegration, though it is possible he could be included in the national squad next month.
The announcement for Brazil’s squad during the November international break — featuring World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay — will be made on November 1. There’s speculation he might be part of the pre-selection for those matches, depending on his evolving fitness levels.
