Neymar's long road to recovery: When will the Al-Hilal star return to the field?

While Neymar is finally back in training with Al-Hilal, the day he makes his return onto the field still seems a bit far away. The Brazilian resumed group training on Sunday after a long recovery from a serious left knee injury, celebrating his progress on social media. Still, what lies ahead of Neymar is yet uncertain. Without a set date for his return to the pitch and left out of the Saudi Pro League, the superstar will enter a period in limbo that may affect the rest of his career.

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Injury and recovery process

This is after the 31-year-old Neymar suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee during a World Cup Qualifier between Brazil and Uruguay back in October of last year. Since then, he has embarked on a lengthy and delicate process of recovery. No. 10 underwent surgery immediately after and has been following a careful rehabilitation process ever since.

Now, finally, Neymar is back in training with the rest of Al-Hilal's squad-a big step forward in his recovery. But it doesn't mean he's fit to be back on the pitch. According to the Saudi press, the player still needs about two more months of rehabilitation, which explains his absence from the Saudi Pro League roster.

Neymar left off roster

The lack of the former Barcelona and PSG forward in the Saudi Pro League roster might be the strong point in this stage of his recovery. With the full awareness that Neymar was not fully fit, Al-Hilal decided not to register him for the league. Now, this is where it gets even more complicated: based on the rules of the league, Neymar will only be able to register again when the transfer window opens again, in January 2025.

This means that even after his recovery is complete, Neymar will have to wait a few months more before being allowed to play in actual competitive matches for Al-Hilal. The club's decision shows just how cautious Al-Hilal has been with Neymar's recovery in avoiding the risk of an early re-injury.

Impact of Neymar's absence on Al-Hilal

Naturally, Neymar's absence on the pitch affects Al-Hilal. The signing, with the anticipation of being the biggest star for the club, had hardly any time down the flank before an injury befell him. As of now, he has only played a few matches donning an Al-Hilal jersey, for which fans and club authorities alike are awaiting his return to the pitch.

The team misses the spark and decision-making with the absence of Neymar, but even without him, Al-Hilal were still one of the powerhouses of Saudi soccer. There is always expectation and pressure which rises with the presence of a player like Neymar.

Long time away from the field

Neymar is on the cusp of completing a full year out of the fields. The last time he played was on October 3, 2023, during a match with Al-Hilal; from there, until he got injured playing for Brazil, it was a long period of inactivity undeniably affecting such a player's match rhythm and fitness due to being adept at technical skills and physical explosiveness.

Such long time off eventually catches up with soccer players, especially those who center their entire game around agility and skill, such as Neymar. The body needs to readjust to the high tempo of competitions, and the game gets tested psychologically. Having been in tough situations throughout his career, Neymar knows how to handle this sort of challenge.

Then, of course, there is the question of the Brazilian national team. He has always been important to Brazil, and his long absence gave a chance for new talents to step up. If he will be back to the national team will depend on his physical condition but also on how he will perform once back in action with Al-Hilal.