<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/neymar/" target="_blank">Neymar </a>joined the festivities with Al Hilal as the SPL club celebrated Saudi Founding Day. The Brazil star, back in Saudi Arabia as he continues rehabilitation from a long-term knee injury, celebrated a significant day for the kingdom. Neymar was seen in traditional Saudi attire with the Al Hilal team. Last year, Neymar and Karim Benzema wore traditional Saudi clothing to mark the kingdom's 93rd National Day. February 22 has been earmarked as Saudi Arabia's <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/gulf-news/2022/02/22/celebrations-on-saudis-first-founding-day/" target="_blank">Founding Day</a>, a new annual holiday to commemorate the founding of the first Saudi state. It celebrates the history of Saudi rule which goes back hundreds of years. However, it is different to the Saudi National Day, which falls on September 23. Neymar looked in good spirits as he recovers from his knee injury. He has been on the sidelines after <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/2023/10/19/al-hilal-dealt-major-blow-as-neymar-faces-months-on-sidelines-with-ruptured-acl/" target="_blank">rupturing his ACL and meniscus</a> during Brazil's World Cup qualifying defeat to Uruguay in October. Last year, Neymar underwent right ankle surgery that required months of recovery before he left Paris Saint-Germain to <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/2023/08/19/neymar-enjoys-memorable-welcome-as-al-hilal-put-on-a-spectacle/" target="_blank">join Saudi giants Al Hilal</a>. The Brazilian joined SPL leaders Hilal for a reported €90 million last August, signing a two-year contract worth €150m per year. Neymar managed only five appearances for Al Hilal before his season was cut short by injury. Meanwhile, Al Ittihad also produced a stunning video to mark Saudi Founding Day. The video was posted with the following message: "From inception, we've celebrated a legacy of three hundred years marked by remarkable accomplishments and glory. We cherish our vibrant present and look forward with optimism to a brighter future." It features Ittihad's star players, including Ballon d'Or winner Benzema, World Cup winner N'Golo Kante and Brazil star Fabinho dressed in traditional clothing as they joined the celebrations. Another SPL club, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, also produced a patriotic video to mark the occasion. As well as the four-minute tribute video they released an 'insider look' at the making of the video. It features Ronaldo with a falcon perched on his arm and his teammates in national dress enjoying the occasion. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/cristiano-ronaldo/" target="_blank">Ronaldo</a> is set to compete in the UAE next month after the Al Nassr captain scored in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday to<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/2024/02/22/cristiano-ronaldo-al-ain-uae-asian-champions-league/" target="_blank"> book a quarter-final clash with Al Ain</a>.
