London, 22 October 2024 (PA Media/dpa/MIA) - Neymar ended his year-long injury lay-off by coming on as a second-half substitute in Al Hilal’s 5-4 AFC Champions League win against Al Ain on Monday.

With his team leading 5-3, the 32-year-old replaced Nasser Al Dawsari in the 77th minute at Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium.

Brazil forward Neymar had been sidelined since rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in October 2023 while on international duty.

“I feel good. I’m so happy. I’m back, I’m back,” Neymar said after the game in a video posted on Al Hilal’s X account.

The Saudi Arabian club had announced his introduction on X by posting: “Spread the word. The Legend @neymarjr is back.”

Neymar earlier posted on X: “Happy to be feeling this feeling again, butterflies in the stomach before a game are always great...may it be a healthy return! May God bless us and protect us.”

Riyadh-based Al Hilal signed Neymar from Paris St Germain in 2023, but muscle strains restricted him to just five appearances before he sustained the serious knee injury.

He was carried from the pitch on a stretcher during Brazil’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat in Uruguay on October 18 last year and had surgery to repair the damage the following month.