Neymar is back on the field after a long absence. The Brazilian superstar had been sidelined since October last year due to a knee injury, and as another October draws to a close, he finally returned.
Fans at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, UAE, eagerly awaited the moment Neymar would take the pitch. He made his comeback for Saudi club Al Hilal in the 77th minute of an AFC Champions League match against Al Ain, replacing Nasser Al Dawsari after 367 days out.
The game itself was full of drama, with nine goals keeping the excitement high. In a nail-biting 5-4 victory, Al Hilal edged past Al Ain. Though Neymar didn’t score, the match witnessed two hat-tricks—Salem Al Dawsari for Al Hilal and Sofiane Rahimi for Al Ain.
Al Hilal faced adversity when Ali Al Bulayhi received a red card in the 82nd minute, reducing them to 10 men. Even with the advantage, Al Ain fell short of a comeback.
In the end, Neymar’s long-awaited return added to the thrill of a match that will be remembered for its electrifying moments.
