Neymar made an emotional return to the Brazilian national team on Wednesday, coming on as a substitute in their 3-0 World Cup win against Scotland. The appearance marked his first for the Selecao in 981 days, since a World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay on October 17, 2023.

During that previous outing, the 34-year-old forward suffered a ruptured ACL and meniscus in his left knee, an injury that led to a significant period of rehabilitation and struggle with fitness. Despite this history, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti included Neymar in his World Cup squad, and he was available for the match against Scotland after missing the team's initial group stage games due to a calf issue.

Neymar entered the game in the 76th minute, replacing Matheus Cunha, with Brazil already holding a commanding 3-0 lead. He received a warm reception from the stadium crowd, with his early touches of the ball met by loud cheers. Although he had limited impact on the game itself, Neymar was immediately tasked with taking set-pieces.

At the final whistle, a visibly emotional Neymar was seen in tears as he acknowledged the fans. His inclusion in the squad had been a talking point, with some observers surprised given his recent injury struggles.

Neymar's career had been hampered by injuries since his move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. His contract with the club was terminated in January 2025 due to his ongoing fitness issues, having made only seven appearances over 18 months. He subsequently returned to his boyhood club, Santos, later that month. At Santos, he has scored 17 goals and provided eight assists in 43 appearances, though the team has faced challenges near the lower end of the Brazilian top flight.

Ancelotti defended his decision to select Neymar, stating that the player's recent continuity and good physical condition had been assessed over the past year. "We spent the entire year analysing Neymar," Ancelotti said. "We realised that in this last period he had continuity and was in good physical condition." The manager also noted the extensive advice he received and the competence of his staff in evaluating players.

Before announcing his squad, Ancelotti had also highlighted Neymar's importance to the team. "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."

With this victory, Brazil advanced to the last-32 of the World Cup as Group C winners, where they are set to face the second-place team from Group F.