Al Hilal forward Neymar set for another spell on sidelines

Neymar’s latest injury has ruled him out of action for up to six weeks, his club Al Hilal have announced.

The world’s most expensive footballer sustained a hamstring problem in just his second appearance for Al Hilal since returning earlier this month from a serious knee injury, which had kept him out for a year.

Neymar, 32, was forced off during Al Hilal’s recent 3-0 AFC Champions League win over Esteghlal after appearing as a substitute and scans have shown a muscle tear.

Al Hilal said in a brief statement on X: “The scans revealed that Neymar Jr has suffered a tear to his hamstring.

“He will undergo a treatment and rehabilitation program that will last from four to six weeks.”

Neymar’s first appearance since recovering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus was also off the bench for the closing stages of his side’s Champions League win against Al Ain last month.

Al Hilal signed Neymar from PSG for £77.6million plus add-ons in the summer of 2023, but muscle strains restricted him to just five appearances before he sustained the serious knee injury.

Neymar was carried from the pitch on a stretcher during Brazil’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat in Uruguay on October 18 last year and had surgery to repair knee ligament damage the following month.

In 2017, PSG made him the world’s most expensive football player when they signed him from Barcelona for £200m. Neymar signed a two-year contract with Al Hilal when he completed his move from the French club.

Neymar has been linked with a move to Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, where he could join up again with former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.