Neymar may have played just 42 minutes in the Saudi Pro League throughout 2024, but that didn’t stop him taking home an eye-watering salary.
The former Barcelona and PSG star earned an incredible €101million in wages from Al-Hilal, despite his injury-blighted time.
His transfer value – as calculated on Transfermarkt – has dropped as low as £12m, much different to the world record fee of £198m paid by PSG in 2017.
Neymar joined the Saudi Pro League in 2023 for an astonishing fee of €90million, making him the most expensive purchase in the Saudi Pro League.
Almost instantly he faced a spell on the sidelines, rupturing his ACL just five games into his debut.
Having struggled with injuries throughout his career, Neymar’s last injury-free stint was as a youngster at Santos, where he spent four years from 2009-2013.
His injury meant that he was deregistered from the club so that they could enable a foreign roster spot for Renan Lodi – a Brazilian left-back.
The Brazil international last played in November against Esteghlal for 29 minutes in an AFC Champions League clash.
Neymar’s ACL injury was by far the most severe of his career, but his recent hamstring strain continues an overall theme of fitness issues.
The attacker’s health problems in Saudi have seen him confined to the treatment room for over 1000 days over the last decade.
Since suffering an ankle sprain at Barcelona in January 2014, Neymar has missed over 200 matches for club and country.
Since making the move to the Middle East in summer 2023, Neymar has made just seven appearances for the club.
With such little output for the club and an inability to maintain fitness levels, Neymar could be out the door before his contract expires in the summer.
Neymar recently spoke out on the prospect of reuniting with the famous ‘MSN’ trio at some point before the end of his footballing career.
He said at the Globe Soccer Awards: “Obviously, playing again with (Lionel) Messi and (Luis) Suarez would be incredible.
“They are my friends. We still speak to each other. It would be interesting to revive this trio.
“I’m happy at Al Hilal, I’m happy in Saudi Arabia, but who knows. Football is full of surprises” he added.