Footballing legend Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior touches down in Japan to an ecstatic welcome from local fans.
Over 700 people gathered at the airport to get a glimpse of the Brazilian star, who is recovering from a fractured vertebrae after he was kneed in the spine during the world cup.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 14-YEAR-OLD FAN, YUDAI ICHIKAWA, SAYING:
"People in front of me and behind me all stood up, and they began to push each other, so I couldn't see him at all."
Speaking at a promotional event, Neymar said despite his injury less than a month ago, he's almost ready to return to training.
(SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) (TRANSLATED FROM JAPANESE TRANSLATION ON SITE) BRAZILIAN SOCCER PLAYER AND BARCELONA FORWARD, NEYMAR, SAYING:
"I am recovering from my back injury after the hit I took and I'm almost 100 percent ready to go back to training with my teammates and we hope to have a great season."
Neymar's club Barcelona says he will begin the final ph