Neymar made his first appearance in more than a year after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament tear while coming off the bench in the second half of Al Hilal’s AFC Champions League Elite match against Al Ain.

The Brazilian star replaced Nasser Al Dawsari in the 77th minute, just after Salem Al Dawsari had scored to give Al Hilal a 5-3 lead. The former Paris Saint-Germain player made an immediate impact, exchanging passes with Aleksandar Mitrovic to create space before firing his shot just wide of the left post.

The match ended 5–4 to Al Hilal after United Arab Emirates-based Al Ain scored a final penalty to reduce the score.

Neymar suffered the injury shortly after joining the Saudi Pro League (SPL) while on international duty last October.

He joined Al Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain in a €90 million transfer in August 2023, but played just five games before suffering an injury.

Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top scorer, missed the 2024 Copa América, which was won by Argentina.

He is eligible to play in the AFC Champions League as there are no restrictions on the number of foreign players. However, he cannot register for the second half of the Saudi Pro League season until January.

SPL teams have limits on the number of foreign players that can be registered.

Eight foreign players born before 2003 can be registered for the squad, while the rules allow two foreign players born in 2003 or later. Neymar’s contract with Al Hilal expires in June 2025.

Saudi champions Al Hilal, coached by Portuguese manager Jorge Jesus, top the national standings after winning all seven matches.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), meanwhile, hopes to have Neymar available in time for November’s World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay.

Brazil is fourth in the World Cup qualifying group, four points behind leaders Argentina after ten games.