Neymar sustained another injury on Monday during his second match back after a year-long hiatus, as Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia secured a 3-0 victory against Esteghlal of Iran in the AFC Champions League Elite.

Just recently returning from a torn ACL, the Brazilian forward came off the bench during the game held in Riyadh. However, he was forced to exit three minutes before the final whistle after appearing to hurt himself while extending his leg for a play in the penalty area.

Fortunately for Neymar, he has adequate time to recuperate before his next appearance, as he is not listed for any upcoming matches in the Saudi Pro League. The next fixture in the AFC tournament is scheduled for November 25.

In this match, Aleksandar Mitrovic showcased an impressive performance by netting a hat trick for Al-Hilal, a club that has claimed the Asian championship title four times. With this victory, Al-Hilal has successfully won all four games in the current group stage.

Mitrovic found the back of the net three times from close quarters, with his first goal arriving 15 minutes into the match. He increased the lead shortly after the half-hour mark and finalized his hat trick just 16 minutes before the match concluded.

Currently, Al-Hilal tops the twelve-team group, where the top eight teams will proceed to the Round of 16. They sit above their Saudi Arabian opponent, Al-Ahli, based on goal difference. This follows Al-Ahli’s dominant performance against Iraq’s Al-Shorta, winning 5-1, with former Liverpool star Roberto Firmino scoring twice in the first half.

In other group matchups, Al-Wasl from the United Arab Emirates played to a 1-1 draw with Qatar’s Al-Sadd, while Persepolis of Iran faced Al-Gharafa from Qatar, ending in the same scoreline.