After 980 days away from international football, Neymar made an emotional return to the Brazil national team in their final World Cup group stage fixture against Scotland. As reported by SPORTbible, the veteran forward made an immediate impact off the bench, providing further justification for Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to include him in Brazil’s World Cup squad despite widespread concerns over his fitness.
The decision to name Neymar in the 26-man squad had sparked debate before the tournament. The Brazilian icon was not expected to be fit for the pre-World Cup warm-up matches or the opening group fixtures after enduring a lengthy spell on the sidelines. His last international appearance came in October 2023, when he suffered a serious ACL injury against Uruguay, while a calf problem also forced him to miss Santos’ final four matches before the World Cup. Since returning from knee surgery earlier this year, he had made just 15 club appearances, with Chelsea striker Joao Pedro ultimately missing out on selection.
Immediate impact for the Seleção
Despite the concerns surrounding his condition, Neymar wasted little time reminding everyone of his quality. Introduced in the 76th minute to replace Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha, the 34-year-old operated in a central attacking role and immediately influenced the game.
Although he surrendered possession nine times during his brief appearance, Neymar created three scoring opportunities in just under 20 minutes. As highlighted by SPORTbible, that matched the creative output of starters Lucas Paquetá and Rayan, who each fashioned four chances despite playing almost the entire match.
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Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti defended his decision after the final whistle.
“Neymar got the opportunity to play because he deserved to play. He worked very seriously and showed great professionalism by training to recover. With the quality he possesses, he can help the team in this World Cup. He played well in those few minutes he stayed on the field.”
Former France striker Thierry Henry, speaking on Fox, also praised Neymar’s influence.
“The game changed the moment Neymar came on. That’s what the very best players do. They don’t need 90 minutes to leave their mark on a match. He played around 20 minutes and still managed to create three chances. That tells you everything about his quality. It’s not just about goals or assists, it’s about how he sees the game and how quickly he can unlock a defence.”
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Difficult year at Santos
As SPORTbible noted, Neymar’s return to the international stage follows a difficult spell since rejoining his boyhood club Santos in January 2025 after 12 years away.
The Brazilian forward registered three goals and no assists in 11 Serie A appearances, while Santos struggled near the bottom of the table. Injury problems once again disrupted his season, with a hamstring issue sidelining him for five consecutive league matches.
One of the lowest moments came during a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Vasco da Gama, a result that led to the dismissal of head coach Cleber Xavier and left Santos hovering just above the relegation zone. Neymar was seen in tears after the match before later describing the team’s display as “s**t” and a “disgrace.”
Brazil march into the knockout stages
Brazil’s convincing 3-0 victory over Scotland ensured they finished the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage with a perfect record of three wins from three matches. Ancelotti’s side will now face the runner-up from Group F in the round of 16, with Japan and Sweden among the potential opponents.
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If Neymar’s impressive cameo is any indication, Ancelotti’s bold selection decision could yet prove to be one of the defining calls of Brazil’s World Cup campaign.
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