Golden goal: the most expensive shot in soccer history

GOLDEN GOAL Neymar's spell at Al Hilal proved very expensive for the Saudi club Sergio Giménez / William Allen

[{"selector":"#anim-c82cc16d-ecb9-4233-86b5-f389661cd77c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] After 10 years in European soccer, Neymar opted to move to the cash-rich Saudi Pro League in summer 2023, joining 19-time champions Al Hilal.

[{"selector":"#anim-ec259e37-3350-4dac-ba2c-88c20095d639","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] It was an offer that Neymar simply couldn’t refuse: Al Hilal handed the Brazilian an annual salary of just over $100 million.

[{"selector":"#anim-7e9bf70f-040c-4189-9cd9-3c96996c2b71","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 173.95267%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] But the forward endured an injury-plagued spell in Saudi Arabia. Most notably, he was sidelined for a year by an ACL tear suffered in October 2023.

[{"selector":"#anim-de8cbab2-2633-4e28-9c98-e360aeb646f6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 173.95267%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Having continued to struggle with injuries after his ACL healed, Neymar left Al Hilal last month - and returned to Brazil to rejoin first club Santos.

[{"selector":"#anim-475812a4-a000-4aa0-b8b3-0a60bb48f92a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] But he has remained on good terms with Al Hilal and Saudi soccer. He is to be an ambassador for World Cup 2034, which will be hosted by the kingdom.

[{"selector":"#anim-5187fb67-e31c-4bb4-b887-addb8d6680a7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-22cb7211-5d0a-4e3c-b3ad-87b86b69e009 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.9345794392523364)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"forwards"}] Taking into account Neymar’s transfer fee, salary and golden handshake, the 32-year-old’s Saudi stay has cost Al Hilal around $230 million.

[{"selector":"#anim-79e00546-13f3-4c44-b5ea-b9f3a8980e79","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 173.95267%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Neymar played just seven games for the Blue Waves, for a total of 428 minutes of pitch time. A very, very pricey deal for the club.

[{"selector":"#anim-cbb431ec-c062-4584-bba8-5796470d61ca","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 137.40015%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Al Hilal’s nine-figure investment reaped just one goal, in a 3-0 AFC Champions League win over Nassaji Mazandaran in early October 2023.

[{"selector":"#anim-ec0ef68f-f88c-48ab-adba-7ce2ed18936a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 196.90347%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-94d5e843-f114-46f1-bfd7-4634417531fd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.9009009009009009)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"forwards"}] Neymar’s three assists for Al Hilal work out at around $80 million each. Two came in the same game: a 6-1 victory over Al Riyadh in September 2023.

[{"selector":"#anim-27f27081-e570-426d-8cdc-d5fcfdab718f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 173.95267%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-879cdf70-ef6e-4c45-91fa-5f963763d5a8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(65.70540058073667%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Each game that Neymar played for Al Hilal cost the club more than $33 million. Per minute, the price of his transfer exceeds $500,000.

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