October 18, 2023 a nightmare for Brazil Fans, when the national team suffered a 2-0 defeat against Uruguay in a World Cup qualifying match.
The day was stained by the sight of Neymar leaving the field in tears, carried off on a stretcher due to a knee injury that sidelined him for an extended period.
A year has now passed since that heartbreaking moment, but there is promising news on the horizon.
Jorge Jesus, the coach of Neymar`s club Al Hilal, announced the possibility of the Brazilian forward returning to action next Monday in an AFC Champions League match against Al Ain.
While Jesus did not confirm Neymar’s participation, he expressed optimism: "Today marks one year since Neymar`s injury. He has fully recovered medically and has rejoined training. If all goes well in the next two days, he will be included in the squad for the upcoming match."
As of now, Al Hilal has not registered Neymar for the Saudi Pro League but has secured his eligibility for the AFC Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup.
His last appearance for the club was last October against Nasaji Mazandaran in the AFC Champions League. After recovering from his injury while with the Brazilian national team, Neymar resumed training with Al Hilal last month.
Neymar`s injury occurred in the 43rd minute of the match against Uruguay, resulting in an ACL tear in his left knee and damage to two menisci.
Over the past year, Brazil has played 14 matches without him, achieving 6 wins, 5 draws, and 3 losses. Since Neymar`s debut in 2010, Brazil has played 192 matches, missing him in 62 of those contests.
With Neymar on the pitch, Brazil boasts a success rate of 78.6%, which drops to 63.9% in his absence.
Anticipation builds as fans eagerly await Neymar’s return to the national squad.
Brazil is set to play two World Cup qualifying matches in November, facing Venezuela on November 15 and Uruguay on November 20.
According to Brazilian media outlet Globo Esporte, team management is keen on bringing Neymar back for these fixtures, contingent upon his fitness with Al Hilal.
This means Neymar could play at least one match for Al Hilal before rejoining the Brazilian team.
However, his inclusion in the squad for the match against Al Ain depends on his physical readiness.
Following the match against Al Ain, Al Hilal’s next AFC Champions League game is scheduled for November 4.
Brazil is expected to announce its squad for the November matches soon, with a preliminary roster potentially released on October 27 and the final squad on November 1.
