Neymar (32, Al Hilal), a "superstar" who left the ground in October last year due to a knee injury and returned for the first time in more than a year, was replaced by hamstring (muscle behind the thigh) pain two games after his return.
Al-Hilal won 3-0 with Aleksandar Mitrovic's one-man show in the fourth round of the 2024-2025 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite (ACLE) league stage against Estegral (Iran) at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 5th (Korea time).
With the victory, Al-Hilal won four consecutive ACLE League stages, equalizing with Al-Ahli (12 points in Saudi Arabia), but led the West Asian region in goal difference.
However, Al-Hilal had to pay more attention to Neymar's physical condition than to the joy of victory.
Al-Hilal replaced Neymar, who was waiting on the bench in the 13th minute of the second half when he was leading 2-0.
Neymar returned in 369 days as a substitute in the 32nd minute of the second half after waiting as a bench member in Game 3 of the ACLE League Stage against Alain at the Haja bin Zayed Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the 22nd of last month.
Neymar, who injured his left knee in the fourth away match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifying round against Uruguay on October 18 last year, underwent reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament and surgery to repair the damaged meniscus in November of that year and went into long rehabilitation.
Neymar, who overcame long-term rehabilitation, joined the team's training last month and returned to the ground through Al Ain.
Neymar also stood by as a bench member in the match against Estegral on the same day, and was replaced in the 13th minute of the second half and played in two consecutive games since his return.
However, Neymar was replaced in the 42nd minute of the second half after pushing out his right foot to get a pass from his teammate near the left side of the penalty area, holding the back of his thigh and complaining of discomfort.
Neymar played for only 29 minutes and returned to the bench. 메이저사이트