Photo: Collected
Brazilian forward Neymar has parted ways with Al-Hilal after an injury-hit 18-month spell in Saudi Arabia. The club announced on Monday, 27 January, that they had "agreed to terminate the player's contract by mutual consent."
In a statement shared on social media, Al-Hilal expressed gratitude to Neymar, saying, "The club expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career with Al-Hilal, and wish the player success in his career."
The 32-year-old joined Al-Hilal in August 2023, becoming one of the marquee names to move to the Saudi Pro League, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Despite a reported annual salary of $104 million, Neymar made only seven appearances for the club.
Neymar's time with Al-Hilal was hampered by persistent injuries. Two months after arriving in Riyadh, he ruptured the cruciate ligament in his left knee during a World Cup qualifier for Brazil in October 2023, sidelining him for a year.
Although he returned to action briefly in October and November 2024, a hamstring injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season. Al-Hilal's head coach, Jorge Jesus, commented on Neymar's struggles, stating, "He can no longer play at the level we are used to. Things have become difficult for him, unfortunately."
Despite his setbacks, Neymar remains determined to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in the US, Canada, and Mexico. In an interview with CNN earlier in January, Neymar said, "I know this will be my last World Cup, my last shot, my last chance, and I will do everything I can to play in it."
Reports suggest Neymar has attracted interest from MLS clubs in the United States. However, speculation in Brazil indicates that Santos, the club where he rose to fame, is in talks to bring him back to his homeland. Such a move would mark a homecoming for Brazil's all-time leading scorer, who boasts 79 goals in 127 international appearances.
Neymar was once regarded as the natural heir to Pele. He burst onto the scene with Santos, scoring 107 goals in 177 matches before joining Barcelona in 2013. At the Catalan club, he formed a formidable attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, helping Barcelona win the Champions League in 2015.
A year later, Neymar delivered for Brazil, scoring the decisive penalty as his nation claimed the men's football gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
In 2017, Neymar made headlines again when Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) signed him for a world-record €220 million (£230 million), a record that still stands. During his time in Paris, Neymar won five Ligue 1 titles and led PSG to the Champions League final in 2020 alongside Kylian Mbappe. However, his time with PSG was marred by injuries and off-pitch issues, with the much-hyped attacking trio of Neymar, Messi, and Mbappe failing to live up to expectations.
Neymar moved to Saudi Arabia in 2023 after PSG management opted to part ways with him, but his stint with Al-Hilal failed to reignite his career. A potential return to Brazil could offer the former prodigy a final chapter in a career filled with both brilliance and unfulfilled promise.
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