Jakarta, ThedailyID — Neymar made an emotional return to Brazil’s national team on Thursday, ending a three-year absence with his first appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The veteran forward said wearing Brazil’s jersey again was a special moment after a lengthy recovery from injury.
The 34-year-old came off the bench in the 76th minute during Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Scotland in the team’s final Group Stage match. He replaced Matheus Cunha after Brazil had already established a comfortable lead.
Although Neymar did not score, he helped maintain Brazil’s attacking rhythm. He registered one shot with an expected goals value of 0.01 and completed 12 of his 13 passes, giving him a 92% passing accuracy.
Meanwhile, Neymar recorded 24 touches during his time on the field. Two of those came inside Scotland’s penalty area as he looked to create chances in the closing stages.
The appearance marked Neymar’s first match for Brazil in three years. Television cameras captured the forward in tears after the final whistle.
“I’m very happy to wear the national team jersey again after three years,” Neymar said, according to The Washington Post. “Physically, I feel very good. Of course, it was very difficult to stay away from the pitch for so long.”
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star also expressed confidence in his fitness after spending about a month recovering from a calf injury.
“I could play 200 minutes,” Neymar said.
Supporters welcomed his return with loud cheers as he warmed up before entering the match. Neymar said the reception made his comeback even more meaningful.
“I had mixed emotions when I came on because it had been such a long time since I was with the national team,” he said. “Thank God everything went well and I was able to return.”
Neymar has represented Brazil since 2010 and remains the country’s all-time leading scorer. His return also gives head coach Carlo Ancelotti another experienced attacking option as Brazil prepares for the knockout stage.
