“Happy to be feeling this feeling again” - Neymar Jr shares heartfelt message on social media ahead of return to action in Al-Hilal’s clash vs Al-Ain
Neymar Jr. wrote a message for his fans on social media ahead of his return to the pitch in Al-Hilal's AFC Champions League clash against Al-Ain on Monday (October 21). The Brazilian superstar was out since October 2023 after picking up an ACL injury during international duty with the Selecao.
The Al-Hilal star was out for 366 days, missing 53 games for Al-Hilal. The Brazilian moved to the Saudi Pro League from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023 for a reported €90 million. However, he could only make five appearances for Al-Hilal before his season-ending injury, recording one goal and three assists.
Ahead of his return to the pitch for the Blue Waves, Neymar took to X to share a message for his fans, and wrote (translated from Portuguese via X):
"Happy to be feeling this feeling again, butterflies in the stomach before a game are always great... may it be a healthy return! May God bless us and protect us."
The Brazilian icon starts on the bench in Al-Hilal's AFC Champions League clash against Al-Ain tonight. He is also expected to return to Brazil's squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers in November. The Selecao will face Venezuela on November 14 and Uruguay on November 19.
"I have suffered every day" - Neymar Jr opens up on his recovery journey ahead of his return to football
In one of Al-Hilal's recent videos shared via their official handle on social media, Neymar opened up about his emotional recovery journey. Recalling the tough times, he said (via India TV News):
“I felt a huge pain. In that moment I already knew it was serious. What I want most in life is to play football. I have suffered every day I've been away from the pitch."
He continued:
"This is what hurts me the most. I am focused on the most important people in my life, my family and friends, and football. I have risen every time I have been injured. But I don't return halfway.”
Throughout his career, the Brazilian superstar has faced multiple dangerous injuries. He notably suffered a bad vertebral injury during the 2014 World Cup quarter-final against Colombia. The former Barcelona star was fouled by Zuniga, leading to him being ruled out for the rest of the tournament.
Although Brazil won the game 2-0, they were knocked out of the tournament after a 7-1 loss to Germany in the semi-final. However, the Brazilian superstar returned to the pitch after 30 days. He notably won the treble with Barcelona after his return in the 2014-15 season.