“Neymar needs no ulterior motivation. Everyone loves him here.”
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti’s words in a cramped Miami press room on Wednesday were borne out just hours earlier in Miami Gardens, where the mere sight of the nation’s long‑absent star triggered hysteria in blazing yellow.
Nearly three years had passed since Neymar last wore the Brazil shirt. Now, at 34 and no longer the team’s leading light, he seized a chance to re‑emerge on the World Cup stage.
Injury had robbed him of much. A torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in October 2023 sidelined him for months, with limited game time slowing his return. But against Scotland, his reappearance electrified the crowd.
Miami Stadium’s giant screens lit up with his name, drawing roars that could rival those from orbit. Vinícius Júnior struck twice in the first half, Matheus Cunha added a third, and then came the eruption: Neymar shed his warm‑up bib, walked to the touchline, and replaced Cunha.
“He had the opportunity to play, because I think he deserved to play. He trained and worked hard to recover, with professionalism,” Ancelotti said after the 3‑0 win. “For this World Cup, I think that he can help the team with his qualities. I think he played well, the few minutes he was on the pitch. Neymar needs no ulterior motivation. Everyone loves him here. He needs no motivation to wear the colours of Brazil. Neymar is still the same, and at 34, he has the same passion he had as a kid.”
Though the damage was already done by Brazil’s new generation, the veteran showed flashes of brilliance in his 20‑minute cameo, recording 24 touches and a shot on target. Post‑match, the big screens locked on him again as he greeted fans and embraced his young daughter.
For Brazil, the return of their forgotten hero comes at a time when the hunger for greatness is fierce. The five‑time champions have not lifted the World Cup since 2002, and their last major triumph was the 2019 Copa América. Under Ancelotti, results have been uneven, with missed victories against Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Japan, Tunisia, France and Morocco.
Against a faltering Scotland, however, Brazil combined swagger with ruthlessness to top Group C. Supporters left Miami Stadium rejoicing—not only for the win, but for Neymar’s role in it.
“Pelé is the best player of all time. No comparison,” one fan told BBC Sport. “He won three World Cups for Brazil. Neymar will be among the best ones. He could be in the same level as Ronaldo or Ronaldinho if he wins the World Cup. I was in 2016 at Maracanã when he scored the decider at the Olympics, a title Brazil never had before. But the World Cup is the one we need, and we’re going for the six stars. I think he’s able to open up the field and bring out jogo bonito. They have to respect who he is and who he once was, because if you don’t, he’ll make you pay, that’s for sure.”
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