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Al-Hilal Falls to Al-Qadsiah and Parts Ways with Neymar

The race for the Saudi Pro League title remains fiercely competitive as both Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, who currently share the top spot, suffered identical 2-1 defeats to Damac and Al-Qadsiah, respectively, in Matchweek 17 of the competition.

At the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, Al-Qadsiah’s star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a brace with goals in the 2nd minute and deep into injury time (90+3′). Al-Hilal’s only response came through Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo, who found the net in the 50th minute.

This result saw Al-Qadsiah deny Al-Hilal the opportunity to pull three points clear at the top of the table after Al-Ittihad’s loss to Damac. Al-Hilal remains in first place, level on 43 points with Al-Ittihad, but with a superior goal difference keeping them ahead.

Finally… Neymar Departs Al-Hilal

In a development that coincided with Al-Hilal’s second league defeat of the season—following an earlier loss to Al-Khaleej—the reigning Saudi champions announced they had “mutually agreed” to terminate Neymar da Silva’s contract, just 18 months after his high-profile arrival.

In a concise statement released on the “X” platform, Al-Hilal declared: “The Al-Hilal Club Company and Neymar Jr. have mutually agreed to terminate the contractual relationship that binds the player to the club.”

The club extended its gratitude to Neymar for his contributions during his time in Riyadh and wished him success in the next phase of his career.

This announcement clears the path for Neymar’s potential return to Santos, one of Brazil’s most iconic clubs, where the forward first rose to prominence. According to Brazilian media reports, discussions are already underway.

Neymar, who holds the record as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, joined Al-Hilal in August 2023 from Paris Saint-Germain in a blockbuster two-year deal reportedly worth €100 million, accompanied by an equally lucrative salary package.

Despite the hype surrounding his move, the world’s most expensive player—following his historic €222 million transfer from Barcelona to PSG in 2017—endured a troubled stint at Al-Hilal. He managed just seven appearances for the “Blue Waves,” tallying one goal and three assists, before suffering a devastating ACL injury to his left knee during Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023.

In January 2024, Al-Hilal removed Neymar from their local roster, replacing him with fellow Brazilian Renan Lodi. He was only retained in the squad for the AFC Champions League.

After recovering from the ACL injury, Neymar faced another setback in early November 2024 when he tore his hamstring, sidelining him for an additional four to six weeks.

Although Neymar returned to training last week, head coach Jorge Jesus cast doubts over his readiness to rejoin competitive action. “A player who has been out for 15 months—whether in Saudi Arabia, Brazil, or anywhere else—will undoubtedly face difficulties in regaining full match fitness,” the Portuguese manager explained. “While Neymar remains a world-class talent, his physical condition has unfortunately not allowed him to re-integrate into the squad.”

Earlier this month, Neymar voiced his determination to compete in the 2026 World Cup, stating: “This will be my final World Cup, my last chance, and I will give everything to be a part of it.”

Though a move to Major League Soccer in the U.S. has been ruled out, reports indicate that Santos, Neymar’s boyhood club, is keen on facilitating his return. Such a move could mark the closing chapter of Neymar’s illustrious career, as Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 127 international appearances.

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