Neymar back in thrilling Al-Hilal victory after long-term knee injury
Neymar made a triumphant return to action on Monday as Al-Hilal secured a dramatic 5-4 victory over UAE Pro League side Al-Ain in the Asian Champions League. The 32-year-old Brazilian forward stepped onto the pitch in the 77th minute, replacing the injured Nasser Al-Dawsari with his team leading 5-3.
Al-Hilal’s scoring was spearheaded by Salem Al-Dawsari, who netted a remarkable hat-trick, while Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Renan Lodi also contributed to the scoreboard. Neymar nearly added to the tally late in the match following a swift counter-attack, showcasing his sharpness despite his long absence.
However, Al-Ain refused to go down without a fight. Soufiane Rahimi, who also completed a hat-trick, converted a penalty in stoppage time, bringing the score to 5-4 and setting up a tense finish. Al-Hilal managed to hold on through a lengthy period of additional time, maintaining their position at the top of the West Asian standings after three rounds.
Following the match at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, an emotional Neymar expressed his relief and joy at being back on the pitch. “I feel good, it’s so hard. I always have a good team. But I’m so happy. I’m back,” he said.
Neymar’s journey back to competitive football has been a long one, having been sidelined for nearly a year due to a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. After undergoing surgery last November, he had only featured in five games for Al-Hilal prior to this match, struggling with muscle injuries since his high-profile transfer from Paris Saint-Germain for a reported €90 million ($97.8 million) in August last year.
With this victory, Al-Hilal continues to lead the Saudi Pro League as well, boasting an impressive 21 points from their first matches.
