Neymar Suffers New Injury Setback in Latest Blow for Santo

Neymar Jr full name Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, is a Brazilian professional footballer known for his attacking prowess. Since leaving Europe in the summer of 2023, Neymar moved from Paris Saint-Germain to the Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal but struggled significantly due to injuries, playing only about 7 games and scoring just one goal in 18 months there.

Contract with Al-Hilal

His contract with Al-Hilal was terminated six months early in January 2025. Following this, Neymar returned to his boyhood club Santos in Brazil on a short six-month contract to regain his form after an ACL injury that sidelined him until October 2024. At Santos, he has made 21 appearances with moderate impact compared to his earlier prolific stint with the club.

Neymar returned to Santos mainly to get back in shape and prepare for a possible comeback in Europe’s top football leagues. He still wants to play at the highest level and take part in the 2026 World Cup with Brazil. His short contract and lower salary at Santos show that he wants to become a free agent soon, making it easier to move back to Europe, possibly to Barcelona, a club he hopes to join again before ending his career. However, his fitness and recent injuries are a concern, and European clubs are uncertain about signing him because of his inconsistent form.

Stats after leaving Europe

Here is a table summarizing Neymar’s key stats since leaving Europe, primarily focusing on his time at Al-Hilal and Santos FC as of the 2025 season:

This reflects Neymar’s post-Europe career focusing on his contributions in the Middle East and Brazil leagues since leaving PSG in Europe.

Overall, Neymar’s post-Europe career has been about recovery and planning a comeback, with Santos serving as a stepping stone before a hoped-for return to European football, possibly in the summer of 2026.