After injury, what next for Neymar?
Credit: Pulse
After being side-lined for nearly a year due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee. Neymar returned to action for Al-Hilal’s hard-fought 5-4 win over UAE Pro League side Al-Ain in the Asian Champions League on Monday. The 32-year-old Brazil forward came on for the injured Nasser Al-Dawsari in the 77th minute of the game. While fans are excited to see him back, there’s always curiosity about how well a player can perform after such a serious injury. After injury, what next for Neymar?
“I feel good, it’s so hard. I always have a good team. But I’m so happy. I’m back,” said Neymar after the game at the Hazza bin Zayed stadium on Monday.
Cruciate ligament injuries are among the most serious in football, often requiring surgery and long periods of rehabilitation. For Neymar, returning after a year means that he has undergone intense recovery to regain strength and mobility. However, the real challenge often comes after recovery, when a player tries to regain their previous form.
Players like Zlatan Ibrahimović and Virgil van Dijk have shown that it’s possible to return to the top level after ACL injuries, but the journey back to full fitness can be slow and cautious. It often takes time to regain confidence in the knee, especially in high-pressure moments on the field.
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In the early stages of his return, Neymar may focus more on distributing the ball, assisting teammates, and positioning himself smartly. He has already dealt with multiple injuries in his career and knows how to adapt his style of play. Instead of always taking on defenders with sheer pace, he might focus more on positioning and playmaking.
Neymar is not just known for his speed and agility, but also for his intelligence on the ball and technical skills. Even if he isn’t as fast or explosive right after returning, his ability to read the game and execute skillful passes, dribbles, and shots remains intact. This will help him ease back into playing without relying purely on physicality.
Football at the top level is fast-paced, and being out for a year can make it hard to immediately keep up with match fitness. Neymar might take a few games to fully adjust to the rhythm, but his exceptional skills should help in the meantime.
Expected to be monitored closely by coaches to ensure he doesn’t over-work himself, fans should expect him to play fewer minutes in the first few games.
Once he regains confidence and fitness, Neymar could return to his peak form. If his recovery is successful, we can expect him to return as one of the top playmakers in the game, using his vision, dribbling, and finishing ability. His leadership on the field will also be crucial, especially with his experience.
While it’s natural for fans to worry about Neymar’s post-injury performance, there’s every reason to believe that with careful management and his natural talent, he will make a strong comeback. Like many other football stars before him, Neymar’s experience and skill set should help him regain his place as one of the world’s best players, even if it takes a few games to reach his full potential.
