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Correio newspaper | Neymar returns to football after a year and almost scores a goal in 29 minutes in Al-Hilal’s victory

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Neymar returns to football after a year and almost scores a goal in 29 minutes in Al-Hilal’s victory

Striker returned in nine-goal game in the Asian Champions League

  • Photo by the author Estadão

Published on October 21, 2024 at 4:05 pm

Neymar after Al-Hilal's game against Al-Ain, in the Asian Champions League

Neymar after Al-Hilal’s game against Al-Ain, in the Asian Champions League Credit: Al-Hilal/Disclosure

Neymar returned to playing an official match this Monday (21), more than a year after being injured while playing for the Brazilian team. He entered the field in the 32nd minute, when the duel between Al-Hilal and Al-Ain, in the Asian Champions League, was already 5-3 for the first, his team. From the bench most of the time, the striker followed the good performance of his teammates at the Hazza bin Zayed stadium, in the United Arab Emirates. He was able to play almost 29 minutes on his return to football, in a match that ended 5-4.

The Brazilian had been sidelined for just over a year. On October 17 last year, he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee during the Brazilian team’s match against Uruguay, in the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Initially, the forecast was for him to return to the lawns in six months. Then it increased to nine and ended up surpassing 12.

This Monday, Neymar entered the field in the 31st minute of the second half. And he needed to do little in the minutes he was on the field. He replaced Salem Al-Dawsari, Al-Hilal’s great highlight in the match against Al-Ain, with a hat-trick. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Renan Lodi, who replaced Neymar in the team for the Saudi Championship, scored the team’s other goals. Bruna Biancardi, his girlfriend, and daughter Mavie accompanied the attacker’s return at the Hazza bin Zayed stadium.

On the field, Neymar watched Ali Al-Bulaihi’s expulsion and came close to scoring his first goal since the injury. The attacker moved well, created an opportunity and finished with his left leg, requiring a good save from Khalid Eisa. The referee, who fumbled several decisions throughout the match, did not observe the goalkeeper’s intervention – under complaint from the Brazilian striker.

Still far from his ideal pace, even though he showed videos of his recovery on social media over the last year, he remained close to the attacking field, without going back to look for or recover the ball from Al-Ain. With one player less, Jorge Jesus’ men suffered with the UAE team’s transitions and conceded another goal, with the Brazilian already on the field.

Even with Neymar, Al-Bulaihi’s absence meant that the Brazilian was unable to show as much of his football as expected. He was precisely a false 9, ahead of Al-Hilal’s attack, and was used mainly with launches from the defensive field. Unable to create, he observed Al-Ain’s pressure in the final stretch of the match, threatening the Saudis’ 100% success rate in Group B of the Asian Champions League.

For Al-Hilal, since being hired in 2023, Neymar has played six matches, with one goal scored and two assists.

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Michelle Williams

I'm Michelle Williams, an enthusiastic author specializing in captivating entertainment content on Rwcglobally.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for the latest trends, I aim to engage readers with compelling narratives that reflect the dynamic landscape of the entertainment industry. Join me on Rwcglobally.com to explore the world of film, television, music, and more, as we uncover the stories that define contemporary culture.

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