Neymar’s comeback has encountered another hurdle as he is expected to miss at least two weeks of training. The reason is a muscle injury he picked up during Al Hilal’s 3-0 AFC Champions League victory over Esteghlal on Monday. The Brazilian forward, who had been out of action for over a year following knee surgery, only played 26 minutes as a second-half substitute before leaving the field with what seemed to be a right hamstring strain.
The 32-year-old’s injury comes just weeks after his highly anticipated return, underscoring the ongoing difficulties he faces in regaining full fitness. After the match, Al Hilal’s head coach Jorge Jesus expressed his worries about Neymar’s condition, pointing out that while his knee had healed, muscle injuries were expected after such a long period of inactivity.
“Neymar, it’s not an easy case,” said Jesus. “Medically, his knee is fine, but he will face issues like today, muscle problems because he hasn’t played for a long time.”
Neymar took to Instagram to discuss the injury, describing it as feeling like a “cramp, but very strong.” He reassured fans that he would undergo tests to assess the severity of the injury but remained hopeful that it wouldn’t be anything too serious. He also recognized the potential for setbacks, mentioning that doctors had cautioned him about such issues after being sidelined for so long.
This setback is particularly disappointing for Neymar, who had just started to find his rhythm following his lengthy recovery. Al Hilal has not registered him for the current Saudi Pro League season, but he is part of their squad for the AFC Champions League Elite, Asia’s top club competition. Despite this latest injury, Neymar is optimistic that with careful management, he will be able to return to full fitness and continue contributing to the team in the weeks ahead.
