Brazilian football star Neymar will be out of training for at least two weeks after suffering a muscle problem during his second match back from a long-term injury.
The 32-year-old forward, who made a high-profile move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, limped off the field just 26 minutes into the match on Monday, November 4, 2024.
This game saw Al Hilal secure a 3-0 victory over Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League Elite.
Neymar’s injury is suspected to be a right hamstring strain, which occurred shortly after he was brought on as a second-half substitute.
This latest setback comes as he was finally returning to competitive football after being sidelined for more than a year due to knee surgery.
The Brazilian had undergone a significant procedure to repair damage to his right knee, which had kept him out of action for an extended period.
Al Hilal’s Portuguese coach, Jorge Jesus, commented on Neymar’s situation, stating, “Neymar, it’s not an easy case. On the medical level, his knee is healed, but then he will have problems like today, muscle problems because he hasn’t played for a long time.”
Jesus went on to add, “Now he has a muscle injury. I don’t know how long he won’t be able to train, but it will be at least two weeks.”
Despite this injury, Neymar has not been registered for the current Saudi Pro League season, which started last month, but he remains listed to compete in the AFC Champions League Elite, Asia’s premier club tournament.
His reported salary at Al Hilal is approximately €100 million (around $112 million) per year.
Following the injury, Neymar took to Instagram to share his thoughts: “It felt like a cramp, but very strong! I’ll do some tests and hope it’s nothing more serious.
It’s normal for this to happen after one year; the doctors already warned me, so I have to take care and play more minutes.”
This statement reflects his awareness of the physical challenges that come after an extended layoff and the importance of managing his playing time as he works to regain his form.
Neymar’s return to the pitch was highly anticipated by fans and teammates alike, making this latest injury particularly disappointing as he continues his efforts to contribute to his team and re-establish his presence in competitive football.
