Neymar wanted to ‘give up’ after suffering ACL injury

Neymar admits he has been thinking about retirement after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury while representing Brazil last year.

The Al-Hilal striker has played just 29 minutes since last October, when he suffered the serious knee injury during a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay in 2026 World Cup qualifying.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star returned earlier this month as a substitute in a 3-0 win over Iranian side Esteghlal in the Asian Champions Elite League, but he suffered a hamstring tear and is expected to be sidelined until mid-December to stand.

During an interview for Netflix's new documentary Saudi Pro League: Kickoff, the 32-year-old said his ACL injury was the worst he has ever experienced.

“Some days when I wake up I want to give up,” he said in the documentary, which detailed his recovery. “I admit that this injury has shocked me the most in my career.

“I was very sad and mentally very depressed for the first month. I knew it was a serious and long-lasting injury. Being on the sidelines is tough.

“The beginning of an injury is quite complicated. At first you just feel pain. I just felt the pain, I just wanted it to stop.

“I wanted to bend my knee as quickly as possible so I could move again and the pain could go away.”

Neymar undergoing scans pic.twitter.com/Gt7T4GxvKh

— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) November 6, 2024

Neymar then revealed that his age made his recovery all the more difficult, adding: “If you don't have the people you love by your side, your family, your friends, then it can be difficult to come back from a injury like this.

“It really messes with your mind and your body. I'm not 20 anymore, I was 31 when it happened. I'm very grateful to have my friends and family around me.”