Neymar Makes Comeback After ACL Injury with Al-Hilal

Brazilian forward Neymar has made his return to football after over a year, following surgery to repair a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus in his left knee. The 32-year-old entered the match in the 77th minute during Al-Hilal's 5-4 victory against UAE Pro League side Al-Ain in the Asian Champions League.

Neymar's injury occurred on October 17, 2023, while playing for Brazil in a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. After undergoing surgery the following month, he has been sidelined for recovery. Neymar, Brazil's male all-time top scorer, joined Al-Hilal in August 2023, moving from Paris St-Germain for a reported fee of around 90 million euros (£77.6 million), plus add-ons.

In his first match back, Neymar nearly scored after an Al-Hilal counter-attack but saw the opposition reclaim possession and score late in the game. Before his ACL rupture, he had made five appearances for Al-Hilal. Neymar also missed significant portions of his final seasons with PSG due to ankle injuries.