Saudi club Al-Hilal striker Neymar has been out for several months due to a serious injury. The press service of the Brazilian Football Federation reported that during the qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup, the player suffered a rupture of the cruciate ligament and meniscus of his left knee.
The association said that Neymar will soon undergo a serious operation, after which he will need a long time for rehabilitation. The entire process is estimated to take around 7–9 months.
The Brazilian player was injured on October 17, when his team met with the Uruguay team in Montevideo. In this match, the Brazilians lost with a score of 0:2, and Neymar himself left the field at the end of the first half on a stretcher.
It is worth noting that he began playing actively only 4 months ago — when he returned to action after completing rehabilitation after another serious injury: in March he had surgery on his ankle. The footballer has already commented on what happened, admitting that he is upset by the need to go through the treatment process again. “This is a very sad moment. I know that I am strong, but now I will need the support of my loved ones.“he wrote on his social networks, adding that going through surgery and recovery again will not be easy.
Neymar moved to Al-Hilal in August 2023 from the French club Paris Saint-Germain. He played only 5 matches for the Saudi Arabian team, scoring one goal and providing three assists.
In total, due to injuries, the footballer appeared on the field in only 17 games this year and scored 6 goals. This is the worst result of his entire career.
The club’s management has already responded to information about the player’s injury. A statement was published on Al-Hilal’s social networks wishing him a speedy recovery. “Come back stronger“reads the statement.
Neymar is now 31 years old. It is still unknown how the next injury will affect his future career. His contract with Al-Hilal, which acquired the player for 90 million euros, runs until mid-2025.
By the way, Neymar recently became the top scorer of the Brazilian national team, scoring 79 goals for the national team: in September, he scored twice against the Bolivian national team in the match of the 1st round of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. He surpassed the achievement of the legendary Pele, who scored 77 goals.