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February 21, 2024
The biggest stars in the SPL join the kingdom’s festivities.
Neymar joined Al Hilal in celebrating Saudi Founding Day, showcasing traditional Saudi attire as he rehabilitated from a long-term knee injury. Back in Saudi Arabia, the Brazilian star participated in the festivities, marking this significant day for the kingdom.
Last year, Neymar and Karim Benzema donned traditional clothing for Saudi National Day on September 23. February 22 has now been designated as Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day, a new annual holiday commemorating the establishment of the first Saudi state and celebrating the country’s rich history of governance.
Despite his injury recovery, Neymar appeared to be in good spirits. He has been sidelined since rupturing his ACL and meniscus during Brazil’s World Cup qualifying loss to Uruguay in October. After undergoing right ankle surgery last year, he transferred from Paris Saint-Germain to Al Hilal for a reported €90 million in August, signing a two-year contract worth €150 million yearly. Unfortunately, he made only five appearances for Al Hilal before his season was cut short due to injury.
Meanwhile, Al Ittihad marked Saudi Founding Day with a striking video featuring star players like Ballon d’Or winner Benzema, World Cup champion N’Golo Kanté, and Brazilian star Fabinho, all dressed in traditional clothing. The video celebrated a legacy of 300 years filled with remarkable accomplishments and optimism for the future.
Al Nassr, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, also produced a patriotic tribute video for the occasion. Along with a four-minute highlight reel, they shared an “insider look” at the making of the video, featuring Ronaldo with a falcon perched on his arm. At the same time, he and his teammates enjoyed the celebrations in national dress.
Ronaldo is set to compete in the UAE next month after scoring in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday, helping Al Nassr secure a quarter-final clash with Al Ain.
Brazilian, with a 2025 contract with a Saudi Pro League team, was ruled out of action for the entire season due to ACL and meniscus ruptures.
Neymar has returned to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia this week for rehabilitation after suffering a long-term knee injury, which has ruled him out for the season. Speculation is growing that the Brazilian forward may return to his first club, Santos, once his contract with Al Hilal expires in the summer of 2025.
Upon his arrival in Riyadh, Neymar was welcomed by a delegation from Al Hilal and enthusiastic supporters who presented him with flowers and gifts as he signed shirts for young fans. Reports from the Spanish newspaper El Nacional suggest Neymar wishes to return to Brazil to join Santos, where he began his career at age 11.
His time at Santos was instrumental in launching his career, eventually leading to his transfer to Barcelona in 2013, where he formed a legendary attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Neymar’s season came to a halt after he ruptured his ACL and meniscus during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October. Last August, he joined Al Hilal for a reported €90 million, setting a record transfer fee for the club and the Saudi Pro League. He signed a two-year contract reportedly worth €150 million per year.
In his brief stint, Neymar made only five appearances for Al Hilal. His debut was delayed due to a prior ankle injury. He finally made his first appearance in September, coming off the bench in a 6-1 victory against Al Riyadh.
Images released by Al Hilal show Neymar training at the club’s facility. While his absence has been notable, the team currently leads the Saudi Pro League by seven points at the halfway stage. Al Hilal is set to face Iran’s Sepahan in the Round of 16 of the Asian Champions League, with the first leg scheduled in Isfahan on Thursday and the return leg in Riyadh on February 22.
The Saudi Pro League will resume on Thursday after a one-month break for the delayed 2023 Asian Cup. Al Hilal’s next league match against Al Raed will be at home on Sunday.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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