The cheers were deafening as Neymar, 34, began warming up at Miami Stadium.
Then he played his first international match in 980 days.
Brazil beat Scotland 3–0 to win Group C in the FIFA World Cup.
It was Neymar’s first game since the calf injury he sustained at the end of last season. And his first international since a match against Uruguay in the World Cup qualifier on October 18, 2023.
Neymar replaced 3-0 scorer Matheus Cunha with a quarter of the game remaining and did not make much of an impact on the game. But the cheering still knew no bounds from the Brazilian supporters.
After the match, Neymar celebrated the comeback together with his children and girlfriend Bruna Biancardi.
Can face Sweden
Brazil is ready for the round of 16 and will meet the team that finishes second in Sweden’s group F. That team is Sweden if Sweden wins against Japan while the Netherlands loses points against Tunisia.
Brazil are aiming for their first World Cup title since 2002.
– It is motivating that Brazil has not won for so long. It is something that we really want to do. We work to bring joy to the Brazilian people, says national team captain Carlo Ancelotti Globe.
Photo: AMANDA PEROBELLI / REUTERS
