RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Neymar faces a two-week absence due to injury, raising concerns about his future with Al-Hilal, the Saudi Arabian football club he joined recently. His latest appearance was only his second since returning from a year-long injury recovery, where he came on in the 58th minute during a 3-0 victory against Esteghlal of Iran in the AFC Champions League on Monday.

Just minutes before the final whistle, Neymar appeared to experience discomfort while stretching to reach the ball, resulting in his substitution with only three minutes left in the game. Al-Hilal’s coach, Jorge Jesus, addressed the situation during a press conference in Riyadh, explaining that the injury is not a straightforward one. He indicated that Neymar is dealing with muscle pain, clarifying that it is not related to his knee. According to the coach, the Brazilian forward is expected to remain sidelined for about two weeks.

Following the match, Neymar reached out to his supporters via social media, expressing hope that his injury isn’t serious. He mentioned the challenges of returning to play after a year on the sidelines, sharing that medical professionals had cautioned him about possible physical setbacks during his comeback. He acknowledged the need to exercise caution and gradually increase his playing minutes.

Within local media circles, there are concerns that his recovery might extend to three weeks, and speculation exists regarding his registration status for the latter half of the Saudi Pro League season. Neymar has participated in only seven matches since signing with Al-Hilal in August 2023 for a reported fee of $90 million. Currently, he is not registered to play in domestic league matches due to the club already utilizing its full quota of ten foreign players; however, he remains eligible to compete in continental tournaments.

The next opportunity for player registration will occur in January, leaving his future and immediate playing prospects under close observation.