Neymar made his long-awaited return to the pitch after more than a year out due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, coming on as a substitute during the second half of Al Hilal's AFC Champions League Elite match against Al Ain.
The Brazilian forward entered the game in the 77th minute, replacing Nasser Al Dawsari, shortly after Salem Al Dawsari netted a goal to give Al Hilal a 5-3 lead. Neymar almost made an immediate impact, linking up with Aleksandar Mitrovic to create a chance, but his shot went just wide of the left post.
The match concluded with a score of 5-4 in favor of Al Hilal, even after Al Ain managed to convert a late penalty.
After the final whistle, Neymar shared his feelings.
"I feel good..., he said. “I always have a good team. I'm so happy. I'm back! I'm back!"
The former Paris Saint-Germain star sustained his knee injury during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay shortly after moving to the Saudi Pro League (SPL). He underwent surgery in November 2023.
Neymar joined Al Hilal from PSG in August 2023 for a reported fee of €90 million but had only played five matches before his injury.
In a show of support, Neymar's former club Santos celebrated his comeback with a message on X.
"It was more than 12 months away from the field, with an immeasurable longing to return to doing what he loves so much," the Brazilian club stated.
"Neymar is not just a star. It's not just genius. Neymar is synonymous with joy in football. His return is the happiness of millions of fans around the world. And, when it comes to fans, the Santos nation has an incomparable feeling. A more than special bond with the best Brazilian player of recent years."
Bayern Munich, under the guidance of head coach Vincent Kompany, secured a 2-1 victory over Celtic in their Champions League playoff first leg at Celtic Park.
The match saw Michael Olise open the scoring with a stunning strike just before halftime, followed by Harry Kane doubling the lead early in the second half with a volley from a Joshua Kimmich corner.
Despite Bayern controlling 70% possession in the first half, Celtic's disciplined defense kept them at bay until Olise's breakthrough.
Celtic's Nicolas Kühn had an early effort ruled offside, and Daizen Maeda later reduced the deficit with a close-range header in the 79th minute.
Celtic pressured Bayern in the final stages, but Bayern's defense, including a crucial late save from goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, preserved their lead.
Reflecting on the performance, Kompany stated, "Celtic pushed us to the limit in the final minutes, but our squad showed great composure under pressure. These are the moments that define top teams."
Celtic, backed by a passionate home crowd, displayed determination and intensity as they fought to find an equalizer.
The Scottish club came close on multiple occasions, forcing Bayern's defense into crucial interventions.
Despite the loss, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers took positives from his team’s performance, saying, "I'm incredibly proud of the fight we showed. We went toe-to-toe with one of Europe's best, and on another night, we could have taken something from the game."
With this result, Bayern holds a narrow advantage heading into the second leg in Munich, while Celtic faces the challenge of overturning the deficit to keep their Champions League aspirations alive.
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