Neymar targets strong 2025 Club World Cup in bid to salvage troubled Al Hilal spell

Brazil forward eager to prove his worth as he nears return from latest injury

Neymar has made just seven appearances for Al Hilal since his big-money move in August 2023. Reuters

Neymar is targeting a starring role at the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup as he bids to salvage his injury ravaged Al Hilal career.

The Brazil forward moved to the kingdom from Paris Saint-Germain last August in a Saudi Pro League record transfer worth €90 million.

However, a serious knee injury sustained while on international duty means he has managed only seven appearances for the club, scoring just once and providing three assists. That’s a staggering €12.86m per appearance, and that’s before you factor in his reported annual salary of €100m.

The situation was compounded when the 32-year-old suffered a hamstring injury just two games into his comeback during an Asian Champions League win over Esteghlal last month.

Al Hilal posted a picture of Neymar on Monday afternoon accompanied by the caption “back to the field” suggesting a return to training six weeks after his latest setback, and the former Barcelona and PSG forward is determined to finally make an impact in Saudi football.

Between now and the end of the season Hilal will seek to retain their domestic crown, while also going for the Asian title, before heading to the US for the expanded 32-team global club finals next June.

Speaking to the former tennis player Marion Bartoli for France’s RMC Sport, Neymar confirmed he “will be back soon” and insisted he still had time to prove his worth to Hilal.

“I feel good, I feel better,” Neymar told Bartoli. “I returned to the field, but unfortunately I am still injured. The luck I have is that the injury is less serious today and I will be back soon.

“First of all, I want to have a good season with Al Hilal,” he said, when asked about potentially featuring at a fourth World Cup in 2026.

“I'm coming back from a very serious injury. I still have a little time to get back to my level and show why I'm here.

“My priority is there – to recover well, develop physically and simply play again. I would like to play in the 2025 Club World Cup with Al Hilal, because it is very important for the club.

“Obviously the World Cup is the goal for all players. I have already played in three World Cups, I obviously want to do the fourth. I have to be focused on that, prepare well here and have this medium-term objective after getting back in shape here, at my club.”

Despite his injury nightmare, Neymar insists he has no regrets over his move to the kingdom.

“I decided to leave PSG and this offer to join Al Hilal came. I got the offer right after I left because I was simply no longer happy there, at PSG,” said Neymar, who has been linked with a reunion with his former Barca teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Inter Miami when his Hilal contract expires next summer.

“The club and the coach did not want to use me any more. They had already spoken to me about it, so I had to make a decision. And I liked the offer from Al Hilal. I got to know this club, the local culture and the championship.

“I was very surprised by my welcome here and the kindness of the supporters. The championship is growing, our team too, and with my family we are certain that we made a good decision.

Brazilian superstar Neymar enters the pitch during his unveiling at Al Hilal in Riyadh on Saturday, August 19, 2023. AFP

New signing Neymar is presented to Al Hilal fans at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh. Reuters

Light show at the King Fahd International Stadium to welcome Al Hilal's new signing Neymar. Reuters

Neymar during his unveiling in Riyadh on Saturday. AFP

Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou enters the pitch as he is presented to Al Hilal fans. AFP

Al Hilal fans created a giant tifo. Photo: SPL

Brazilian forward Malcom greets fans as he enters the pitch during his unveiling. AFP

“I am really very happy here. And all the players who want to come here are surprised by the level or even some very positive aspects of this championship.”

Unfortunately, injuries have been a theme of the second half of Neymar’s career, especially during his years at PSG. He says he draws strength from his previous comebacks and also made the somewhat surprising claim that he played his best football when in the French capital.

Neymar was previously part of Barcelona’s fabled “MSN” attacking trident alongside Messi and Suarez.

“I think it's above all a question of mentality,” he said. “An injury is always very complicated to manage for an athlete, especially with an injury as serious as I had and then returning to the top level is not easy.

“It's really a question of mentality with the people who are around you to help you. It's really not easy, but the people around me, my family and my friends have supported me a lot. It even made me stronger to be able to recover and progress mentally.

“Obviously I am passionate about football. I agree that my sporting years at PSG were probably the best for me. But it was very sad for me, because I often had very serious injuries that could last from three, four to six months. It bothered me a lot, but in terms of football, in terms of sport, it was the best Neymar they had in my entire career.

“So, I am happy to have been able to offer that to French football, but on the one hand, there is also this feeling of sadness because I did not play a full season, only the year 2020, when we reached the Champions League final. It was really a great year when I think back on it. I will never forget those moments, they are engraved in my heart.”