There’s no doubt that Neymar is one of the greatest soccer players of a generation, but his career has dwindled in recent times. Like many stars that are past their prime, the Brazilian moved to the Saudi Pro League to play for Al Hilal in 2023. However, his time at the club has been cut short due to a severe anterior cruciate ligament injury in October of last year.
Neymar is Brazil’s top scorer of all time with 79 goals in 128 showings for his country, and he will be desperate to feature at the World Cup in North America in 2026. Currently, though, his chances of starting for Dorival Júnior’s side at the tournament are slim.
Only Five Appearances for Al Hilal
Neymar accepted a big money move to play in the lucrative emerging soccer league of Saudi Arabia when it was clear that his time at Paris Saint-Germain was at its end. The red hot forward was one of the greatest players in PSG’s history, helping the club to five Ligue 1 titles and a Champions League final. But his injury troubles, and the fact that Kylian Mbappe wanted to be the main man, forced the French giants to sell him.
Unfortunately for the former Barcelona man, he only managed to make five appearances for Al Hilal before his season was prematurely ended through injury. This forced the club to deregister the player to free up another foreign spot on the team. That means that Neymar is currently without a club, which could seriously affect his chances of playing in the World Cup in two years’ time.
Injury Has Led Neymar to Pursue Love of Poker
Neymar would arguably be a Ballon D’Or winner if he had plied his trade during a different era. But with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi dominating for so long, he didn’t get a look in. There’s no doubt that he’s one of the most skilled players of his generation, and his talents span beyond the soccer field.
Indeed, Neymar is one of the most famous celebrity poker players on the planet, with various tournament money finishes amounting to more than $150,000 in winnings. While injured, Neymar has focused on getting the best poker hands rather than the most stunning goals. Thanks to the rise of online poker and the accessibility of hand charts that explain everything from a royal flush to a straight, players like Neymar have been able to become proficient at the game alongside their day-to-day careers.
Neymar Likely to be in Squad Regardless
Even though the Saudi Pro League isn’t considered to be competitive enough to test international players, there’s no doubt that Neymar will be in the Brazil squad for the World Cup if he is injury free. There’s also a chance that, if he recovers well from his latest setback, he may be playing for a more prestigious club.
Barcelona had expressed interest in bringing Neymar back after his time at PSG ended, but ultimately the wealth of Saudi Arabia won the 32-year-old star over. Still, there are plenty of top clubs that will be interested in Neymar, and he could potentially move again in the years prior to the international tournament.
It would be unwise to bet against Neymar playing at the World Cup in 2026. Once he recovers from his latest injury, he will find it easy to sign for a new club or return to Al Hilal. Brazil will need one of its greatest stars ever in the squad if they want to be in with a chance of winning the competition.
