November 4th 2024.
Neymar has certainly been through a tough time lately, dealing with multiple injuries that have kept him off the field. It's been a frustrating journey for him, and it was evident when he had to come off in just his second game back from a major knee injury. He looked disheartened as he sat on the sidelines, a clear sign of how much he wants to be out there playing.
Last summer, the Brazilian star joined the Saudi Pro League team Al Hilal in a deal worth a whopping £130m per season. It was a huge move for him, but unfortunately, he was only able to play five games in all competitions before suffering another season-ending knee injury while representing his home country of Brazil in October. It was a devastating blow, but after a year-long rehabilitation program, Neymar was finally able to make his return last month with a brief appearance as a substitute against Al-Ain.
However, his second appearance as a substitute, this time in the AFC Champions League against Esteghlal FC, ended in frustration when he was forced off after just 29 minutes due to a hamstring injury. As he sat back down on the bench, he slammed his shin pads in frustration, clearly disappointed with another setback. But speaking after the game, Neymar remained hopeful that it was nothing too serious. He shared on Instagram, "I'll do some tests and hopefully, it's nothing too major. It's normal for something like this to happen after being out for a year. The doctors had warned me, so I have to be careful and gradually increase my playing time."
The 32-year-old forward has had a tough run with injuries in the latter part of his career, with ankle problems plaguing his time at Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Saudi Arabia. Just last month, he opened up about his struggles and how much he loves the game of football. "What I want most in life is to play football," he stated in an interview with NR Sports. "I have suffered every day I've been away from the pitch. That's what hurts me the most. But I am focused on the most important people in my life - my family, friends, and football. I have overcome injuries before, but I never come back halfway."
Unfortunately, while Neymar was out, his team Al Hilal was not able to secure a win without him. They lost 3-0 to their Iranian opponents, with former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring a hat-trick. Al Hilal remains unbeaten in the AFC Champions League and is currently at the top of the Saudi Pro League standings, aiming for their seventh league title in the last nine seasons under the leadership of coach Jorge Jesus.
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