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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="footballco-bet-betsense">{"type":"footballco-bet-betsense","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><ul><li>Neymar sidelined since October 2023</li><li>Still struggling with a knee injury</li><li>Yet Jesus names him in AFC Champions League squad list</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Neymar surprisingly included in Al-Hilal's AFC Champions League squad as Jorge Jesus makes huge call on injury-plagued Brazilian

Saudi Pro League

Al Hilal

Al Ittihad

<p>Neymar's injury and lengthy rehabilitation process has kept him sidelined for almost a year. Although there was initial hope that he would <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/neymar-al-hilal-coach-jorge-jesus-eager-to-delay-brazilian-return-from-injury-until-january/blt097c52a49d3474d9#csf350be63357a08bd" target="_blank">return to action by the end of the October </a>international break, it now appears that his comeback might take longer and might even stretch until<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/neymar-al-hilal-coach-jorge-jesus-eager-to-delay-brazilian-return-from-injury-until-january/blt097c52a49d3474d9" target="_blank"> sometime in the new year.</a></p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Despite his fitness concerns, Neymar still leads Al-Hilal’s 31-man squad list for the prestigious AFC Champions League, according to a report from <a href="https://arriyadiyah.com/849110/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A2%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9" target="_blank"><em>Al-Riyadiya</em></a>. The AFC’s registration system allows changes to the squad to be made up until five days before the opening game, after which the list will remain unchanged until the end of the group stages. The window for further registration will reopen during the winter transfer period.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Neymar has only featured in five matches for the club, scoring just one goal. This is a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/no-msn-inter-miami-neymar-rules-out-lionel-messi-luis-suarez-reunion-mls-al-hilal-forward-future-plans/blt53796beb37fe2b9a" target="_blank">far cry from the expectations</a> placed on the South American forward, given his substantial contract and reputation. However, the goalscorer continues to work on his recovery and recently <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/neymar-message-response-claims-long-awaited-al-hilal-return-injury-delayed-2025/blt8ec63ec4db2c05cf#csbddb361432e716bd" target="_blank">posted a training video</a> along with a caption that read: "Work in silence. Don’t give up.”</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Al-Hilal’s quest for continental glory kicks off on September 17, when they face Qatar’s Al Rayyan in Doha in the AFC Champions League. Although Neymar will most likely sit out this particular fixture, it remains to be seen if the Brazilian is called up by Jorge Jesus later in the group stages.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Neymar surprisingly included in Al-Hilal's AFC Champions League squad as Jorge Jesus makes huge call on injury-plagued Brazilian | Goal.com US

Despite recent injury troubles, Neymar has reportedly been included in Al-Hilal&apos;s AFC Champions League squad by manager Jorge Jesus.