Saudi Arabia – Brazilian football sensation Neymar, the all-time leading goal scorer for Brazil, marked his debut in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Hilal in remarkable fashion. The 31-year-old, who made a high-profile move to the former Asian champions for a staggering 90 million euros from Paris Saint-Germain just last month, graced the pitch as a substitute, leaving an indelible impact during the final 26 minutes of his new club’s resounding 6-1 victory over Al-Riyadh.
Neymar, celebrated globally for his football prowess, entered the fray in the 64th minute, replacing fellow Brazilian Michael. In a display of his exceptional skills, Neymar assisted in a goal as he set up Malcom to find the net, securing Al-Hilal’s fourth goal in the 83rd minute.
The scoring spree for Al-Hilal commenced with a 30th-minute penalty converted by Aleksandar Mitrovic. This was followed by goals from Yassir Al-Shahrani and Nasser Al-Dawsari, granting the league leaders a commanding lead.
Neymar, who recently eclipsed Pele’s historic record as Brazil’s top goal scorer with a spectacular brace in a 5-1 victory over Bolivia, had been sidelined due to an ankle injury since his arrival in Saudi Arabia.
During his debut, as Neymar observed from the sidelines, fans voiced their discontent when Al-Hilal’s captain, Salem Al-Dawsari, opted to take an 87th-minute penalty. Nonetheless, the Saudi Arabian winger confidently converted the penalty and went on to add another goal in injury time, contributing to his side’s impressive 6-1 triumph.
By Reuters
