Cancelo’s Unstoppable Mindset: I Don’t Lose, Even When Knocked Down
2 octobre 2025
Injury and cryptic messages
Portuguese winger Joao Cancelo, who plays for Al Hilal, continued dropping cryptic messages after being sidelined from the domestic squad due to injury. He posted a bold note on his Instagram account: “I do not lose, this is impossible. You can hurt me... but you will never defeat me.”
The message sparked widespread debate on social media, with some readers viewing it as a dig at the club’s management, while others saw it as a defiant vow to come back stronger despite the tough period he is navigating.
Injury and exclusion
Cancelo sustained an injury in the AFC Champions League Elite first-round match between Al Hilal and Al Duhail, a game that the Leaders won 2–1. Medical assessments indicated an eight-week treatment and rehabilitation plan, ruling him out of the King’s Cup clash with Al Adalah and league duties against Al Akhdoud, as well as the ACL showdown against Nasaf Qarshi, and the league duel with Al Ettifaq.
He is also expected to miss the October 21 clash with Al Sadd in the ACL and the league fixtures against Al Ittihad (Oct 24) and Al Shabab (Oct 30). There’s a chance he could return before the November 25 ACL match against Nasaf Qarshi, depending on his progress.
The club subsequently added Brazilian Marcus Leonardo to the squad in Cancelo’s stead, intensifying the rotation during his absence.
Fiery aftermath and club vs. player tensions
Cancelo’s extended layoff sparked a blaze of reactions. He posted a story wearing shirts from all the clubs he had represented except Al Hilal, later restoring the club’s name to his account. A follow-up Instagram post read: “If I have to start over again, I will start. I’m not afraid of beginnings; what I fear is suffering, living in appearances, not being happy.”
Later, Cancelo appeared at training in a Corinthians shirt, prompting calls from fans for disciplinary action on social media. He added: “My commitment is to my dreams; what others think of me doesn’t matter. I’m busy building my own story.”
These episodes are framed within recurring tensions with coaches, and with Jorge Jesus’s departure and subsequent management changes, as Cancelo and his leadership team navigate a precarious path in a high-pressure environment.
October: fiery schedule and standings
Under coach Simone Inzaghi, Al Hilal faces a demanding October slate: a home game against Al Ettifaq in Dammam on Oct 18, then an away date with league leaders Al Ittihad on Oct 24, followed by a fixture with Al Shabab on Oct 30. The team sits sixth in the Saudi Pro League with eight points (two wins, two draws), four points off the pace set by the top side.
October also brings a King’s Cup Round of 16 clash against Al Akhdoud at the Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musaid stadium in Najran on Oct 28, and a continental assignment against Al Sadd on Oct 21 in the ACL Elite group stage. A clash with Nasaf Qarshi in the ACL remains on the horizon, with the schedule tightly packed as the season reaches its mid-point.
As the injury timeline unfolds, Al Hilal will be hoping Cancelo’s absence is brief and his absence does not derail a season with fierce competition on multiple fronts. For now, the focus remains on rehab, resilience, and reemergence at the right moment.
Punchline 1: If confidence were a muscle, Cancelo would be lifting heavy while still wearing a cast.
Punchline 2: When life gives you injuries, make sure your ego gets a proper trainer—at least your mind stays undefeated.
