Emotional Neymar breaks down after justifying why he made the Brazil World Cup squad

Brazilian icon Neymar made a return to international football in the World Cup fixture versus Scotland, and was left in tears after putting on a show that justified his controversial inclusion in the squad.

It's been 980 days since Neymar last featured for Brazil, with his last international appearance ending in disaster as he was stretchered off with an ACL injury against Uruguay in 2023.

The tricky attacker has been fighting for fitness ever since, most recently hindered by a calf injury that ruled him out of the last four games of the season for Santos.

In fact, he's played only 15 games since returning from knee surgery this year, and clashed with Santos fans amid a furious interview.

Which is why it was a shock to the footballing world as new Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti controversially named him in his 26-man squad for the World Cup.

His seat on the plane was proved even more divisive as it became clear that he was not going to be fit for any pre-tournament warm-ups or the opening fixtures.

Yet when he was named in the squad, while Chelsea striker Joao Pedro was left at home, Neymar was left an emotional wreck.

Now, Neymar has finally returned to the stage in a 20-minute cameo against Scotland, and after showing that those knees still have magic flowing through them, he let the waterworks flood open again at full time.

Neymar shines in World Cup cameo before breaking down at fans' receptions

The 34-year-old Brazilian made his first international appearance in three years in the 3-0 win over Scotland, as he came on in a central position for Manchester United star Matheus Cunha.

Joining the pitch in the 76th minute, he was met by a resounding celebration in the stands that drowned out the cheers for each goal.

Back with the ball at his feet, the good, the bad, and the brilliant of Neymar's extensive bag of tricks was on full display.

Despite losing possession nine times in the short spell, Neymar created three chances for his Brazilian teammates, which was only beaten by starters Lucas Paqueta and Rayan (4 chances each).

Showing that he still has what it takes to contribute to Brazil's hunt for a sixth World Cup trophy, Neymar couldn't contain his emotions at full-time, as he was pictured in floods of tears.

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"Neymar got the opportunity to play because he deserved to play," said boss Carlo Ancelotti after the game.

"He worked very seriously and showed great professionalism by training to recover. With the quality he possesses, he can help the team in this World Cup. He played well in those few minutes he stayed on the field."

His impact was praised by Thierry Henry, too.

"The game changed the moment Neymar came on. That's what the very best players do. They don't need 90 minutes to leave their mark on a match," Henry said on Fox after the game.

"He played around 20 minutes and still managed to create three chances. That tells you everything about his quality. It's not just about goals or assists, it's about how he sees the game and how quickly he can unlock a defence.

"Every time he received the ball, Scotland had to adjust. He was asking questions, finding spaces and creating opportunities for his teammates. Brazil immediately looked more dangerous in attack.

"What I always look at is influence. Can a player change the rhythm of a game? Can he make the opposition uncomfortable? Neymar did exactly that tonight.

"For all the talent Brazil has, Neymar still brings something unique. Sometimes a short cameo is enough to remind everyone why he's been one of the most important players for this generation of Brazilian football."

Brazil became the first team to round off their top World Cup 2026 groups with three wins, where they will face the runner-up in Group F, which is likely to be the winner of Japan vs Sweden on Thursday, June 25.