The magic of Neymar was sorely missed in the SPL this season. Yet, his team Al Hilal won a treble of domestic trophies, coming out on top against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr every single time. This, nevertheless, didn’t affect the Brazilian’s respect for the Portuguese icon. As far as the former Barcelona man is concerned, Ronaldo is one of the ‘biggest names‘ in soccer with what he is doing at his age. Interestingly, Neymar feels that one of his former teammates is similar to CR7.

In a recent interview, Neymar was quizzed about how CR7’s longevity influenced his retirement plans. He said, “I think it varies from person to person. Obviously, Cristiano Ronaldo is a great example that playing football has no age.” But, the Brazilian added that not everybody shares the same will and some retire early at 33 while others go on till 42. Also, the Al Hilal star added that his countryman Thiago Silva is similar to CR7 in longevity.

Neymar explained, “We have a Brazilian who is almost the same age if I’m not mistaken in Thiago Silva. This is something I think is missing in us Brazilians.” Neymar also kept the cards close to his chest concerning his playing aspirations. Will he follow a career path similar to Thiago Silva and Cristiano Ronaldo? It remains to be seen but one thing is clear. The playmaker will be back in action at the start of next season and has already set the goals for next season.

Neymar delivers an emphatic message after Al Hilal’s treble

The Al Hilal star was in attendance as his side defeated Cristiano Ronaldo in the King Cup. While it was a day of tears for the Al Nassr captain, Neymar was in high spirits. He was seen lifting the trophy with his teammates and also did the Lionel Messi celebration. Later, he took to Instagram to write a message for his team and supporters. The playmaker wrote, “Thank you for the titles this year. Next season leave it to me. LETS GO HILAL.”

This is an ominous sign for the likes of Al Nassr and Al Ittihad. Neymar’s return will make Al Hilal even harder to beat. This season, the only failure for the men in blue was the AFC Champions League. Perhaps, this is where Jorge Jesus will get a boost with the return to action of the gifted Brazilian. What are your predictions for Al Hilal next season? Let us know below in the comments.