Al-Hilal forward Neymar provided fans with reassurance after he was forced off during Monday’s Asian Champions League Elite match, downplaying the injury as nothing more than a severe cramp. The 32-year-old Brazilian, who recently returned from a long ACL injury layoff, limped off the field 30 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute in Al-Hilal’s commanding 3-0 victory over Esteghlal.
In a social media post, Neymar said, “It felt like a cramp, only very strong! I’m going to have some tests and hope it’s nothing too serious.” His message calmed Al-Hilal supporters eager to see more from their star forward.
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Neymar’s medical team had previously cautioned him about potential muscle issues as he worked his way back to full fitness following his ACL injury during Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay last October. With only seven games played for Al-Hilal since his high-profile transfer from Paris Saint-Germain for €90 million ($97.9 million) last year, fans are hopeful that his latest injury concern will not sideline him again.
The football icon has taken extra precautions, saying he understands the importance of pacing himself post-injury. “The doctors had already warned me, so I have to be careful and play more minutes gradually,” Neymar added.
