The return everyone was waiting for! Neymar plays his first match at the 2026 World Cup after a serious injury
The Brazilian stepped onto the pitch against Scotland, replacing Matheus Cunha
Football news
Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
Neymar made his 2026 World Cup debut in Brazil's clash against Scotland.
Details: The forward came on in the second half, replacing Matheus Cunha.
This was a special moment for Neymar: he hadn’t played for the national team for nearly two and a half years after suffering a cruciate ligament injury.
Despite a lengthy absence, Carlo Ancelotti included the star in Brazil’s World Cup squad and gave him his chance in the third group stage match.
Neymar’s appearance became one of the main highlights of the encounter with Scotland — fans finally witnessed the return of a player who had been sidelined for so long by a severe injury.
For the record: Brazilian star follows in the footsteps of Ronaldo and Rivaldo at the World Cup
