Neymar Debuts in 2026 World Cup as Brazil Tops Group C

Neymar finally made his appearance in the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, entering the field as a substitute in Brazil's final group stage match against Scotland. The 34-year-old forward, who is Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, came on in the 76th minute, replacing Matheus Cunha in a game where Brazil already held a comfortable 3-0 lead.

The crowd at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium gave Neymar a massive ovation as he took the field for his fourth World Cup appearance. He had missed Brazil's first two matches, a 1-1 draw with Morocco and a 3-0 win against Haiti, due to a calf injury sustained in May and a severe knee injury suffered in October 2023 during a World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay.

Neymar's return marks a significant moment for the Brazilian team, as he brings his experience and scoring prowess to the tournament. He has previously accumulated eight goals and four assists across his World Cup participations in 2014, 2018, and 2022.

Brazil's victory over Scotland secured them first place in Group C. In the other group match, Morocco came from behind twice to defeat Haiti 4-2, with Haiti's Wilson Isidor scoring a spectacular long-range goal. Morocco finished second in the group, while Scotland still has a chance to advance as a third-place finisher.