Neymar made his first World Cup appearance of 2026 when he came off the bench during Brazil's Group C final match against Scotland on June 24. The Paris Saint-Germain winger's comeback followed a near-three-year absence from international football since October 2023, representing a significant milestone in his recovery from knee injury.
The 32-year-old's selection and substitute appearance underscores his importance to Brazil's World Cup campaign. Tite managed his return carefully, introducing him from the bench as Brazil dominated proceedings. Neymar's availability heading into the knockout rounds adds attacking depth and creative options alongside Vinicius Junior and other established attacking players.
The attacker's return coincides with Brazil's progression as Group C winners. His knee injury, which required extended rehabilitation, has been closely monitored throughout the tournament. The substitute outing allows Neymar to build match fitness and sharpness ahead of Brazil's last-32 fixture against a third-placed team from Groups C, E, F, H, or I.
→ Match stats and preview on ScanGoal