MIAMI GARDENS — Neymar made his long-awaited return to international football on Wednesday as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer came off the bench in a 3-0 victory over Scotland at the World Cup.
The 34-year-old forward entered in the 76th minute at Hard Rock Stadium, marking his first appearance for Brazil since 2023 after recovering from a right calf injury that had sidelined him for the team’s opening two matches.
Neymar’s return came as Brazil secured top spot in Group C and advanced to the knockout stage.
“I’m very happy to be wearing the national team jersey again after three years,” Neymar said after the match. “I feel fine physically. Obviously, it was tough being sidelined for all those days.”
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti had indicated earlier in the week that Neymar would be available, opting to introduce the veteran forward from the bench with Brazil already leading comfortably.
The Brazil supporters inside Hard Rock Stadium greeted Neymar’s warm-up with loud cheers, which intensified when he entered the pitch and touched the ball for the first time.
“It was a mix of emotions when I came on, because it had been a long time away from the national team,” Neymar said. “Thank God everything went well and I was able to return.”
Vinícius Júnior, who scored twice in the victory, welcomed the return of his teammate.
“Our idol is back, a guy who always fought hard and did everything to be here,” Vinícius said. “I hope he can keep evolving and keep improving, helping us throughout the competition.”
Neymar had been sidelined for more than a month because of the calf injury and only returned to full training 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.”
The forward indicated that he is ready to play a bigger role as Brazil enters the knockout rounds.
“I can play 200 minutes,” Neymar said.
Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 130 international appearances and has scored eight goals across his previous three World Cup tournaments.
His inclusion in Brazil’s squad had been heavily debated following his struggles since suffering a serious knee injury in 2023, but his return provides Ancelotti with an additional attacking option as Brazil pursues a sixth World Cup title.
“Every player here will be a huge help to us in this competition,” Vinícius said.
Source: Saudi Gazette