The pre-season campaign for top European football sides is in full swing, as teams traverse the globe on pre-season tours and tournaments.
An important time build up fitness and chemistry before the gruelling European season, these kinds of matches are also commercially lucrative and offer fans around the world the chance to see the superstars of football in the flesh.
Paris Saint-Germain are one such team venturing across the world, playing three pre-season games in Japan, with the first being against Cristiano Ronaldo's Al- Nassr.
The team will be watched with interest after the departure of Lionel Messi and the transfer speculation of Kylian Mbappe, with more scrutiny set to fall on Brazil star Neymar, who has been hampered by injuries in recent times.
MORE: Kylian Mbappe transfer news: French star subject of world record transfer bid from Saudi Arabia
Will Neymar play against Al Nassr today?
There has been no definitive announcement on whether Neymar will feature in PSG's friendly match against Al Nassr, with the Brazilian winger being sidelines since February after picking up an ankle injury in a league match.
The chances of him playing in the match were considered unlikely, with some reports stating Neymar and midfielder Kang-In Lee will be unavailable due to injury.
However, images and video of the Brazil star returning to team training yesterday sparked speculation his recovery may be progressing faster than expected, as vision of Neymar practising free-kicks circulated on Twitter.
🎥: Neymar in training today 🤏 ⚽️pic.twitter.com/KqRN2Vimga
— 🗯️ (@njrcmpzhd) July 24, 2023
⌛️✋🏾😛🤚🏾#neymar #neymarjr
— Neymar Jr Site (@NeymarJrSite) July 24, 2023
📸 PSG pic.twitter.com/P7RPAGzcyY
If Neymar is to take the field against Al Nassr, it will most likely be a short cameo appearance off the bench due to his lack of game and training time in recent months.
There is a greater chance of more playing time in the side's other friendly matches against Cerezo Osaka and Inter Milan.
MORE: What time is PSG vs Al Nassr friendly match?
Neymar injury history
Neymar's career in recent years has unfortunately been hampered by a difficult run with injuries, stunting his impact for both his club as well as his country.
Before his most recent ankle injury, which caused him to miss the final 15 games of the 2022-23 season, he also missed 12 games in the 2021-22 season between November and February due to another injury to his ankle.
A series of injuries kept him out for shorter spells between 2019 and 2021, with the winger also suffering two metatarsal fractures during his time at PSG, which has seen him miss three months on the sidelines for each injury.
Injury also famously ended his 2014 World Cup campaign on home soil, when he suffered a fractured vertebrae after being kneed in the back in Brazil's quarterfinal win over Colombia, causing him to miss Brazil's humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany.
MORE: Where to watch PSG vs Al Nassr friendly match
Neymar 2022-23 season
Neymar's latest injury was particularly unfortunate, as he was enjoying a strong season for PSG.
At the time of his injury at the end of February, he had recorded 13 goals and 11 assists in Ligue 1 action, helping PSG rise to the top of the table, and also had two goals and three assists during the group stages of the Champions League.
The match he picked up his injury, a 4-3 win over Lille, he had a goal and an assist to his name in just 50 minutes of action.
He also played in Brazil's 2022 World Cup side in Qatar, where injury also saw him miss two games.
He recovered to have a goal and an assist in their round of 16 win over South Korea, before scoring a wonder goal in the quarterfinal against Croatia, though Brazil would eventually be eliminated on penalties.
PSG pre-season schedule
PSG's clash against AL Nassr is their first in front of fans this pre-season, after playing and winning a behind closed doors match against French side Le Havre.
After their battle against Cristiano Ronaldo, they will then face Japanese side Cerezo Osaka on July 28, followed by a match against 2023 Champions League finalists Inter Milan on August 1 in Tokyo.
The team's first league clash of the season will be on August 12 against Lorient.
| Date | Match | Stadium |
|---|---|---|
| July 25 | PSG vs. Al Nassr | Nagai Stadium |
| July 28 | PSG vs. Cerezo Osaka | Nagai Stadium |
| August 1 | PSG vs. Inter Milan | Japan National Stadium |
