RIYADH — Brazilian star Neymar Jr. was forced to exit Al Hilal's AFC Champions League match against Iran's Esteghlal due to a muscle injury, a setback that left him visibly frustrated. Neymar, who was introduced as a substitute for Abdullah Al Hamdan in the 58th minute, had to be replaced by Mohammed Al-Qahtani just before the end of regular time. The incident dampened an otherwise successful night for Al Hilal, who claimed a 3-0 victory thanks to a hat-trick from Serbian forward Aleksandar Mitrović. Neymar, still returning to full fitness after a lengthy recovery from a cruciate ligament injury sustained while playing for Brazil, showed glimpses of his signature skill on the field. However, his joy was short-lived; as he reached the bench after being substituted, he threw his shin guards and boots in visible frustration. The forward later shared on Instagram that he felt "a very strong muscle strain" but hoped it wouldn't be a severe injury, acknowledging that medical staff had cautioned him about the potential for muscle issues following his long rehabilitation. "This kind of thing is to be expected after a year of recovery," Neymar wrote, adding, "The doctors had already warned me. I'll undergo further tests and hope for the best." Neymar's latest injury comes as he was being gradually reintroduced into Al Hilal's lineup by head coach Jorge Jesus, who had been monitoring his minutes to avoid overexertion. Neymar has only played seven games for Al Hilal since his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in August last year, featuring exclusively in the Asian Champions League while being withheld from domestic matches to ease his return. The injury also casts doubt over Neymar's upcoming national commitments; he was recently left out of Brazil's squad for November's World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay, with head coach Dorival Júnior choosing not to rush his return to international play. Neymar, Brazil's all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 128 caps, last appeared for his national team on October 17, 2023, before sustaining a knee injury. The Al Hilal fans were quick to show their support for Neymar, who had managed to engage the crowd with his brief, skillful performance. Yet, for now, both the player and his team will have to wait and hope for a smooth and speedy recovery. Coach Jorge Jesus confirmed that Neymar's injury would likely sideline him for at least two weeks, underscoring the challenge of his full return to competitive form.
