Neymar made his first Brazil appearance since 2023 as the Selecao beat Scotland 3-0 at the World Cup on Wednesday evening.
Neymar, 34, is his country’s all-time record goalscorer with 79 goals in 129 caps, but he hadn’t featured since a World Cup qualifying defeat by Uruguay on 17 October, 2023.
During that game, the forward ruptured the ACL and meniscus in his left knee, sparking a torrid few years with injuries.
He was a surprise call-up by Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti for his World Cup squad, and having missed their first two group games with a calf issue, Neymar was available for the Scotland clash.
In the 76th-minute of the match, he was then introduced off the bench for Matheus Cunha with his side 3-0 up.
Neymar received a wonderful reception from fans inside the stadium and his first few touches on the ball were cheered loudly.
Brazilian icon Neymar made his return to international football at the World Cup vs Scotland
Neymar came off the bench late on, almost three years after winning his previous Brazil cap
It meant that the 34-year-old has now played for his country at four World Cups, and although he was unable to impact the game too much, he was immediately taking Brazil’s set-pieces.
At full-time, Neymar then broke down in tears as he saluted those in attendance at Miami Stadium.
His inclusion in Ancelotti’s group for the tournament was well-received by fans, although some onlookers were left shocked given Neymar’s recent career history.
The original knee injury came right at the start of his time in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal, and ultimately resulted in his contract being terminated in January 2025 as he struggled to return to fitness, making just seven appearances over 18 months.
Neymar returned to his boyhood club Santos in Brazil later that month and has since scored 17 goals and added eight assists in 43 appearances.
However, he has been plagued by fitness troubles and Santos have tended to struggle around the lower reaches of the Brazilian top flight during that time.
His call-up also came at the expense of Chelsea forward Joao Pedro, who enjoyed a hugely impressive season in the Premier League in 2025-26.
When explaining the decision to include him, Ancelotti said: ‘We spent the entire year analysing Neymar.
‘We realised that in this last period he had continuity and was in good physical condition.’
He added: ‘I received a lot of advice. A lot! From journalists and singers… from all over the world.
‘The work done by the staff over the past year has been very good, well executed, with competence, personality, and competitiveness as well. I have all the possible information needed to make a squad list with fewer mistakes.’
Neymar last played for Brazil in a World Cup qualifying defeat by Uruguay in October 2023 when he suffered a serious knee injury
Before he had announced his group, Ancelotti had also outlined the merits of including Neymar.
‘Neymar is an important player for this country because of the talent he has always shown,’ Ancelotti explained. ‘He’s very well-liked, he’s very much loved.
‘I think it’s normal for the players to express their opinion… his fitness has improved. He can maintain a high intensity in a match.’
Brazil’s comfortable victory over Scotland means they progress to the last-32 as Group C winners where they will face the team that comes second in Group F, which could be Japan, the Netherlands or Sweden.
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