Neymar Jr., one of the best football players of his generation, made world headlines in August 2023 when he moved from Paris Saint-Germain to Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal. Following the scooping of Cristiano Ronaldo by Al Nassr, the Saudi League continued its move to attract top players to develop the league by signing Neymar for a fee worth €90 million. The deal made Neymar one of the highest-paid footballers in history, earning a whopping €150 million annually.
Injury setback
The deal, one of Saudi Arabia’s and Al Hilal’s biggest ever, got a huge blow after Neymar ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while on international duties with Brazil. He had featured only on five occasions for the Saudi giants and subsequently missed the rest of the 2023/2024 season. This prompted Al Hilal to deregister Neymar from the squad in January 2024 to accommodate new signing Renan Lodi.
The Brazilian is a fan of poker and casino having been in the news on multiple occasions for playing the game. The PokerStars ambassador has a strong association with poker which has helped open up a new market of fans and players to popular casino games, including some of the most popular UK casino sites. This is also a plus for Al Hilal and Saudi football as players who may not have previously followed the Saudi Pro League will begin to pay more attention. Neymar’s openness, charisma, and flair have made him a natural fit for promoting popular casino games, where skill, strategy, competitiveness, and some showmanship can make all the difference.
Neymar is undoubtedly one of the best players of his generation, with many putting him just behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo this decade. However, his career has been hampered by a series of injury setbacks since his time at Santos in Brazil and the story is similar at Al Hilal, with the recent ACL injury preventing the superstar from showcasing his magic on the pitch.
Al Hilal’s season overview
From a sporting perspective, Al Hilal didn’t seem to miss Neymar as they easily won the 2023/2024 Saudi Pro League title without losing a single game. They also won the King’s Cup and reached the semifinal of the AFC Champions League. One of the major highlights of Al Hilal’s season was setting a new record for most consecutive games won in football’s top flight by winning 34 straight matches.
Al Hilal already kicked off their 2024/2025 season with a bang, beating rivals Al Nassr 4-1 to win the Saudi Super Cup. And with Neymar nearing recovery, the main question in many people’s minds is how the Brazilian star will impact the Saudi giants this season.
What can Neymar bring to Al Hilal?
Despite the injury setback and the idea that Al Hilal are doing okay without Neymar, there are several reasons to be optimistic about the Brazilian’s potential impact on Al Hilal this season. The Saudi Champions will face a tougher task to defend their league title with rivals Al Ittihad, Al Ahli and Al Nassr making moves to overthrow them. Also, Jorge Jesus’ men failed to achieve their continental goal of winning the AFC Champions League last season after being easily knocked out by Al Ain in the semifinal. Neymar’s ability to dictate the tempo of a game, create and finish up chances as well as his game-changing prowess will boost Al Hilal’s chances of winning the treble this season.
Aside from his amazing skillset with the ball, Neymar’s overall experience in the game will also be a vital asset to his team. His resilience, fighting spirit, and ability to take risks will make a huge difference as his team goes through the tough parts of the season. Surrounded by a great supporting cast including names like Serjeg Milinkovic-Savic, Mitrovic, and Ruben Neves, Neymar will have the necessary support to turn up in crucial moments and lead the team to glory.
Another aspect where Neymar will significantly impact Al Hilal this season is the club’s global brand. As one of the most marketable athletes in history, Neymar’s presence in the team will bring significant attention to the club. The marketing icon will spur huge commercial interests in Al Hilal and Saudi football as a whole not just through his aesthetic style of play which will drive more attendance in games, but also his ambassadorial roles in many big platforms, one of which is his association with poker.
For Neymar, the 2024/2025 season with Al Hilal represents a new chapter. The star is known for never giving up and Al Hilal fans eager to see their star man back on the pitch should expect a show when he returns. While his injury history is a genuine concern, his potential for making a significant impact remains high and the whole world is looking forward to the Brazilian lighting up the pitch again and promoting Saudi football globally.
