After a year-long recovery from injury, Neymar made his comeback for Al Hilal, playing in an AFC Champions League match last month. Just as many were anticipating a celebration of his return, the Brazilian forward has been sidelined once again with another injury.
Neymar was forced to leave the field just 30 minutes after coming on as a substitute in the 58th minute of the match against Esteghlal FC. Despite his disappointment, there was a positive outcome for Al Hilal, it defeated Esteghlal 3-0 in the AFC Champions League, with Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrović scoring a hat-trick.
The result of the match, however, was overshadowed by Neymar's injury. He sustained a blow to the back of his right leg and collapsed in pain on the field. Reluctantly, Al Hilal's coach had to substitute him. After a year-long absence, Neymar has played just 42 minutes across two matches.
Reports indicate that Neymar has suffered a thigh muscle injury. The exact severity of the injury remains unclear, leaving uncertainty about how long his recovery will take. Typically, players are sidelined for three to four weeks with this kind of muscle injury.
Despite the setback, Neymar reassured his supporters.
After the match, he posted on his Instagram story: "I hope it's nothing serious... It's normal to experience this after being away for a year. The doctor had warned me about it, so I need to stay cautious and gradually increase my playing time."
Bd-Pratidin English/ARK
