Neymar and Al-Hilal Part Ways After Injury-Plagued Stint

Brazilian football star Neymar has officially ended his 18-month tenure with Saudi club Al-Hilal, as the two parties mutually agreed to terminate his contract. The announcement was made on Monday via a club statement shared on social media.

“The club expresses its gratitude to Neymar for his contributions during his time with Al-Hilal and wishes him success in his future endeavors,” the statement read.

The 32-year-old former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward joined Al-Hilal in August 2023 on a reported salary of $104 million per year. However, his time in Saudi Arabia was marred by injuries, limiting him to just seven appearances for the club.

Neymar, who still holds the record for the most expensive football transfer—moving from Barcelona to PSG in 2017 for €220 million ($230 million)—joined the Saudi Pro League shortly after stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

However, his stint was cut short due to a cruciate ligament injury sustained in October 2023 while playing for Brazil in a World Cup qualifier. The injury sidelined him for a year. Although he made brief comebacks for Al-Hilal in October and November 2024, a hamstring injury further derailed his season.

The club’s coach, Jorge Jesus, recently commented on Neymar’s struggles, saying, “He can no longer perform at the level we are accustomed to. It has become challenging for him.”

Despite his setbacks, Neymar remains determined to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Speaking to CNN earlier this month, he said, “I know this will be my last World Cup, my last shot, my last chance, and I will do everything to be there.”

Reports suggest Neymar has drawn interest from MLS teams in the United States. Meanwhile, Brazilian club Santos, where Neymar first rose to prominence, is reportedly in talks to bring him back to his homeland.

If Neymar returns to Brazil, it could mark the final chapter of a career that has seen him become Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 127 appearances.

Neymar’s rise began at Santos, where he scored 107 goals in 177 matches before joining Barcelona in 2013. In Spain, he thrived alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, helping the team clinch the 2015 UEFA Champions League title with a 3-1 victory over Juventus.

He also delivered a historic moment at the 2016 Rio Olympics, scoring the decisive penalty to secure Brazil’s first-ever Olympic gold in men’s football.

In 2017, Neymar moved to PSG in a record-breaking transfer. While he won five Ligue 1 titles and reached the Champions League final in 2020 alongside Kylian Mbappé, the star-studded PSG squad struggled to gel, leading to his eventual departure to Al-Hilal in 2023.

As Neymar contemplates his next move, a return to Santos could be the closing act of a remarkable career that once promised to follow in the footsteps of Pelé.

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