Neymar made his long-awaited return for Brazil as the five-time world champions defeated Scotland 3-0 to secure top spot in Group C at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Brazilian superstar came off the bench in the 76th minute at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, ending a 981-day absence from international football.
The 34-year-old had missed Brazil’s first two matches of the tournament because of a calf injury, but was declared fit by coach Carlo Ancelotti earlier this week.
“He is available. He trained very well this week,” Ancelotti said before the match.
“He is fit and able, ready to play. We are very happy that he is back. He is a high-quality player.”
Brazil were already cruising to victory when Neymar entered the game, with Vinicius Junior scoring twice and Matheus Cunha adding a third goal.
The crowd welcomed Neymar’s return with huge cheers as he warmed up along the touchline. The noise inside the stadium grew even louder when he stepped onto the pitch and made his first touch of the ball.
Despite playing only the final 14 minutes, Neymar showed glimpses of his quality by creating three chances and forcing a save with a shot on target.
The former Santos, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward has endured a difficult spell with injuries since suffering a serious knee injury during a World Cup qualifier in October 2023. His fitness had been one of the major talking points among Brazil fans ahead of the tournament.
Neymar arrived at the World Cup as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 129 appearances and his return provided another boost for a team already through to the knockout stage.
The appearance also saw him become only the fourth Brazilian player to feature at four FIFA World Cups, joining legends Pelé, Cafu and Djalma Santos.
After the final whistle, an emotional Neymar waved to supporters and blew kisses to the crowd as Brazil celebrated a victory that secured first place in Group C and a place in the last 32.
