Brazilian football icon Neymar has parted ways with Saudi club Al-Hilal after an injury-marred stint of just 18 months.
The club announced on Monday that the player’s contract had been “mutually terminated.”
In a statement shared on social media, Al-Hilal expressed gratitude for Neymar’s contributions, saying, “The club expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career with Al-Hilal, and wish the player success in his career.”
The 32-year-old forward, who previously dazzled at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, managed only seven appearances for Al-Hilal since his high-profile signing in August 2023, despite reportedly earning an astonishing $104 million annually.
Neymar’s transfer to PSG from Barcelona in 2017 remains the most expensive in football history, valued at 220 million euros ($230 million).
Neymar’s move to Saudi Arabia followed the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in a push to elevate the Saudi Pro League.
However, his time at Al-Hilal was severely hampered by injuries. In October 2023, just two months after his debut in Riyadh, Neymar suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee while playing for Brazil in a World Cup qualifier.
This injury sidelined him for a year. Though he made two brief appearances for Al-Hilal in late 2024, a hamstring injury further derailed his return.
Al-Hilal’s coach Jorge Jesus recently reflected on Neymar’s struggles: “He can no longer play at the level we are used to. Things have become difficult for him, unfortunately.”
Despite these setbacks, Neymar remains focused on one last grand objective: the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
In January, he told CNN, “I know this will be my last World Cup, my last shot, my last chance and I will do everything I can to play in it.”
Speculation about Neymar’s next move has intensified. While Major League Soccer clubs in the United States reportedly expressed interest, Brazilian media suggested that Santos, the club where Neymar first rose to fame, is exploring a potential homecoming for the star.
A return to Santos could mark the twilight chapter of a career that has seen him become Brazil’s all-time top scorer, with 79 goals in 127 international appearances.
Once hailed as Pele’s successor, Neymar began his career with Santos, netting 107 goals in 177 matches before moving to Barcelona in 2013.
There, he formed a legendary attacking trio alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, leading the team to Champions League glory in 2015 with a 3-1 victory over Juventus in the final.
He also claimed Olympic gold with Brazil in 2016, scoring the decisive penalty in the Rio Games final.
In 2017, Neymar made headlines with his record-breaking transfer to PSG, where he secured five Ligue 1 titles and, alongside Kylian Mbappé, helped the team reach the Champions League final in 2020, only to lose to Bayern Munich.
However, PSG’s ambitious “superstar trio” experiment with Neymar, Messi, and Mbappé faltered due to internal tensions, ultimately leading to his exit and subsequent move to Saudi Arabia.
Neymar now faces a critical crossroads, with his next steps potentially defining the final act of an illustrious but injury-laden career.
