In his second game back from injury, Neymar Jr. was substituted off the pitch minutes into Al Hilal’s AFC Champions League matchup against Esteghlal.

Concerns regarding the Brazilian star’s potential comeback were raised when he was substituted in the 57th minute after only recovering from an earlier injury.

Neymar was trying to catch a pass from teammate Marcos Leonardo when he stretched his right leg, but the ball was just out of reach. Neymar grasped his leg and called for a substitution as soon as the play was over.

Al Hilal doesn’t seem to be very concerned about it; it seems to be a small muscle problem. However, the club’s official medical report must be made public in order to shed light on Neymar’s condition. The Brazilian star will have some time to recuperate since Al Hilal’s next game is set for November 26.

After suffering a meniscus injury and a damaged anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left leg during a World Cup 2026 qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023, Neymar healed. Even though Brazil lost that game 2-0, Neymar’s catastrophic injury—which has kept him out of action for a long time—was the bigger blow.

In an honest video that NR Sports made, Neymar talked about how his injury came at the wrong time. “I was experiencing a fantastic time in my life. The birth of my daughter and my arrival in Al Hilal all contributed to what seemed to be a fantastic year, but then this occurred,” he said.

He continued by highlighting his passion for soccer and expressing the anguish he experiences every day when he is unable to play. Neymar declared, “Playing soccer is what I love most in life.” “Every day I’m away, I suffer. The thing that hurts me the most is this.”

Neymar’s injury could potentially affect Al-Hilal’s upcoming fixtures, but given the nature of the issue, it seems more likely that he will be back in action relatively soon. The club’s medical team will continue to monitor his condition closely.