Neymar Jr. is back on the training pitch, but Al-Hilal officials are tempering expectations. The Brazilian forward, sidelined since October 2023 with a torn ACL, has resumed individual work at the club’s facilities in Riyadh.
His recovery is tracking with the medical team’s original projections. He’s running, hitting the ball, and increasing his workload, yet the club’s coaching staff refuses to name a date for his competitive return. They’ve seen his history—the persistent ankle issues and the physical toll of his playing style—and they aren’t about to rush him back into a high-intensity Saudi Pro League schedule.
The stakes are high for both the player and the club. Al-Hilal invested a record-breaking sum to bring the 32-year-old to Saudi Arabia, but they’ve seen him in a competitive kit for less than a handful of matches. His absence hasn’t stopped the club from dominating the league, but the brand value he brings is a different matter.
For Neymar, this isn’t just about club football. The 2026 World Cup cycle is looming. If he wants to remain the centerpiece of the Brazilian national team, he needs meaningful minutes—not just cameos off the bench.
“He is working hard, his attitude is spot on,” a source close to the club’s medical staff said. “But the knee is the boss. It dictates the pace, not the calendar.”
There’s a clear divide between the optimism on social media and the reality in the gym. While fan-posted videos of him scoring in training have triggered speculation of an imminent return, those inside the club know better. They’re looking at long-term stability rather than a quick fix for the next fixture.
Neymar’s return will be measured in weeks, not days. Until he can survive the physical contact of a full-scale training session without reaction, the sidelines remain his primary workspace.
