It finally happened. The experiment that cost roughly €12.8 million per match is over. Neymar has parted ways with Al Hilal after 18 months, ending a stint in Saudi Arabia that will likely be remembered more for surgical updates than goals. Honestly, it was a mess. When the Brazilian superstar landed in Riyadh back in August 2023, the hype was deafening. He was the crown jewel of a massive recruitment drive, a €90 million transfer from PSG meant to rival the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Instead, we got seven games. Total.
Seven appearances across a year and a half of employment. If you’re doing the math, that’s about one game every 77 days. By January 2025, both parties decided they’d seen enough. The contract was shredded by mutual consent, allowing Neymar to pack his bags and head back to where it all began: Santos.
The Downward Spiral: Why the Al Hilal Deal Collapsed
The problem wasn't a lack of talent. It never is with Neymar. The guy is electric when his body actually cooperates. But just two months into his Saudi adventure, while playing for Brazil against Uruguay, his knee basically exploded. A ruptured ACL and meniscus.
That was it.
He spent 369 days on the sidelines. While he was rehabbing, Al Hilal didn't even miss him. That’s the crazy part. Under Jorge Jesus, the team went on a record-breaking unbeaten run, winning the Saudi Pro League, the King’s Cup, and the Super Cup without their $100-million-a-year man. When Neymar finally returned in October 2024 for a brief cameo against Al Ain, fans thought the comeback was on. Then, a few weeks later, his hamstring snapped against Esteghlal.
Jorge Jesus was blunt about it. He essentially said the player couldn't perform at the required level anymore. When your own coach says things have become "difficult," the writing isn't just on the wall—it's glowing in neon.
A Financial Disaster or a Marketing Win?
From a purely footballing perspective, this was a disaster. Al Hilal paid nearly €100 million in transfer fees and another roughly €150 million in wages over those 18 months. They got one goal in return.
One goal.
However, some argue the "brand" value of having Neymar in the kit for a year helped the league's visibility. Kinda hard to swallow that pill when you’re paying millions for Instagram posts rather than hat-tricks, though. By the time 2026 rolled around, Neymar was already back in Brazil, recently renewing his deal with Santos through the end of the year to chase one last dream: the 2026 World Cup.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Exit
There's this idea that Neymar just wanted the money and ran. While the paycheck was obviously insane, he seemed genuinely gutted by the injuries. You don't cry on the pitch like he did if you don't care. The decision to terminate the contract six months early actually saved Al Hilal about €62 million in wages.
It was a "mercy killing" for the contract.
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Neymar needed to be somewhere where he felt loved and where the pressure wasn't tied to a quarter-billion-euro investment. Santos provided that. The move back home wasn't about a retirement tour; it was about survival. He needed minutes to convince the Brazilian national team—and their new leadership—that he could still wear the number 10 in 2026.
The Santos Era: 2025 and Beyond
Since returning to Brazil in early 2025, life hasn't been a walk in the park.
- He struggled with fitness throughout the first half of 2025.
- He eventually found form, scoring 8 goals in 20 matches.
- Five of those goals came in a desperate late-season push to keep Santos relevant.
- He underwent another meniscus surgery in late December 2025.
It's been a cycle of "is he back?" followed by "oh wait, he's hurt." But as of January 2026, he has officially committed to staying with Santos until the end of the World Cup year. He's reportedly taken a massive pay cut—some say up to 99% compared to his Saudi wages—just to keep playing.
The 2026 World Cup: The Last Gambit
Basically, everything Neymar is doing right now is for the 2026 World Cup. He’s 33 now. His body is a roadmap of scars. But he’s still Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, having surpassed Pelé's official tally back in 2023.
The national team has been moving on without him, though. Carlo Ancelotti and the Brazilian federation have been careful with their words, noting that while Neymar is a legend, the team has to function as a unit. He hasn't worn the yellow shirt since that fateful night against Uruguay in 2023.
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To get back, he needs a clean run of health starting in February 2026.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following the twilight of Neymar's career, keep an eye on these specific markers over the next few months. This isn't just about nostalgia; it's about whether a generational talent can have a "Last Dance" style ending.
- Monitor his minutes in the Paulistão: Neymar is expected back on the pitch by mid-February 2026. If he can't string together five consecutive starts for Santos, his World Cup hopes are effectively dead.
- Watch the March International Window: If Brazil doesn't call him up for the spring friendlies, it’s a massive signal that he’s not in the plans for North America.
- Check the workload management: Santos has implemented a specific "Neymar program" to prevent more muscle tears. His success depends entirely on his willingness to follow a strict, boring rehab schedule rather than the flashy lifestyle he's known for.
The story of Neymar and Al Hilal is a cautionary tale about the limits of "Sportswashing" and the fragility of human tendons. You can buy the best player in the world, but you can't buy his health. Now, the football world watches to see if the boy from Mogi das Cruzes has one more miracle left in his boots before the curtain closes in 2026.
To track his progress, follow the official Santos FC injury reports and the Brazilian CBF squad announcements scheduled for the first week of March. These will be the definitive indicators of whether his move away from the Middle East actually served its purpose.