Brazilian superstar Neymar made his long-awaited return to competitive football on Monday, after being sidelined for over a year. The Al Hilal forward came on as a second-half substitute during an exhilarating 5-4 victory against Asian champions Al Ain in the UAE.
The 32-year-old, who has not played since suffering a meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee while representing Brazil in October last year, underwent surgery followed by extensive rehabilitation. Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, netting 79 goals in 128 matches.
For the first time since his injury, Neymar was named on the bench for Al Hilal and was introduced in the 76th minute of the Asian Champions Elite match at the packed Hazzan Bin Zayed Stadium. At that point, Al Hilal was leading 5-3, benefiting from goals by Renan Lodi, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and a hat-trick from Salem Al Dawsari.
It should be noted that Neymar cannot be registered to play in the Saudi Pro League until January. Al Hilal’s coach, Jorge Jesus, emphasized the importance of gradually reintegrating Neymar into competitive play. “I need to prepare Neymar with games; that’s the only possible means to bring him to his level,” Jesus remarked, acknowledging the risks involved in this process.
The match began with Al Hilal taking the lead in the 26th minute, when Aleksandar Mitrovic assisted Lodi, who scored with a precise low shot. Al Ain equalized six minutes before halftime with a goal from Morocco’s Soufiane Rahimi. Rahimi, who was the standout player in last season’s Asian Champions League, had a significant impact on the game.
Just before halftime, Al Hilal regained control with goals from Milinkovic-Savic and Al Dawsari, extending their lead. Al Ain responded shortly after the hour mark with a goal from Mateo Sanabria, but Al Dawsari quickly added his second goal to restore the two-goal advantage for Hilal.
In a dramatic finish, Al Ain’s Rahimi completed his hat trick by scoring from the penalty spot, narrowing the gap and giving his team a glimmer of hope. However, Al Hilal held on to secure the victory despite being reduced to 10 men due to a red card for defender Ali Al Bulaihi.
Neymar had limited opportunities to leave his mark on the game, but he did attempt a shot in the closing moments. With this win, Al Hilal remains at the top of the Western region group with a perfect record of three wins, while Al Ain has managed to earn only one point.