Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister Katia Aveiro has quashed rumours linking her brother with a shock move to Al-Nassr’s domestic rivals Al-Hilal to replace Neymar. The Brazilian great has had an injury-plagued stint at the club.
Neymar arrived at the Saudi Pro League leaders last summer in a reported €90 million move from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). He has played just seven times across competitions, scoring once and assisting thrice.
That’s because he was out of action for a year since injuring his ACL last year while on Brazil duty in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. Making his return to action last month, Neymar injured his hamstring after 29 minutes in the AFC Champions League Elite game with Esteghlal this week and is expected to be sidelined till mid-December.
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Amid reports of Al-Hilal contemplating selling Neymar in January, Brazilian outlet Eportes posted a collage of Neymar and Al-Nassr captain Ronaldo with the caption:
“With an open future, Neymar can be replaced by Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Hilal.”
As per a tweet by GOATTWORLD, Aveiro replied (as translated from Portuguese):
“Are you just writing nonsense man? He clearly doesn’t understand anything about football. You could have contacted me, and I would have told you about the rivalry between the clubs there, and what that possibility is, delete my friend, there is still time.”
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Neymar is contracted with the Saudi Pro League leaders till 2025, while Ronaldo also has a contract with Al-Nassr till then.
How has Cristiano Ronaldo fared against Neymar’s Al-Hilal?
Cristiano Ronaldo (facing) and Neymar
Cristiano Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the best players to grace the beautiful game and one of its most prolific goalscorers, amassing a record 907 strikes for club and country.
That tally consists of three strikes in eight games against Neymar’s Al-Hilal. Two of those goals came in the 2-1 extra time win over Al-Hilal in the final of the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup, a pre-season friendly tournament.
Ronaldo’s only competitive goal against Al-Hilal has come in two outings in the Saudi Super Cup, which came in a 4-1 loss in the final this year, continuing his over-three-year competitive title drought.
It’s pertinent to note that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is winless in seven competitive meetings with Al-Hilal, losing five times. The most recent of those defeats came in the aforementioned 2024 Saudi Super Cup final, with Neymar’s side successfully defending their title.
