‘No pain, no gain!’ - Neymar sends defiant injury message but still no return date for Brazil & Al-Hilal superstar after ACL surgery

The 32-year-old forward suffered knee ligament damage while on international duty with Brazil in September 2023. He left a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay in tears, with it quickly revealed that he would be forced to undergo surgery before starting a lengthy rehabilitation programme.

Neymar is working his way through that - after four months on the sidelines - and is putting work in behind the scenes in order to ensure that he is back as quickly as possible. For now, the Samba star is being restricted to gym sessions.

He has posted a “no pain, no gain” update on social media, with the South American prepared to push his body to its limit in order to return raring to go once more. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal on a two-year contract in August 2023.

It remains to be seen when he will play for them again, as questions are asked of his future at club level. The expectation is that the unfortunate injury will prevent him from figuring for Brazil at the 2024 Copa America tournament that will take place in the United States this summer.