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Neymar confessed that he felt a surge of nervousness during his much-anticipated comeback to the Brazilian national team, marking nearly a thousand days away from international football. The Santos forward came on in the second half of Brazil’s 3-0 win over Scotland, drawing a close to an extensive recovery process following a serious knee injury sustained in 2023.

The emotional comeback of Brazil’s number 10

After exactly 981 days away and a period filled with uncertainty, Neymar finally donned the iconic yellow jersey once again in a World Cup atmosphere. The last time he represented Brazil was in October 2023, when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee during a clash with Uruguay. Under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti, Neymar began the match against Scotland on the bench but was brought on 30 minutes into the second half at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Visibly moved, Neymar shared the cascade of emotions that accompanied his return to the pitch. “My heart was racing, I was very nervous… but happy! Proud, everything went well,” he said in an interview with TV Globo.

Physical readiness and emotional release

Years of rehabilitation and physiotherapy culminated in an outpouring of emotion after the final whistle. Neymar was seen in tears on the field and later explained that it was a release of everything he had endured, describing it as a mix of joy and relief.

“I’m very happy to wear the national team jersey again after three years. Physically, I feel good, thank God. It was tough being sidelined for all those days, but I wasn’t completely inactive. I’ve been training hard for 25 days to be ready for these matches. So I’m very happy, very satisfied,” the player told UOL.

He added, “It was a blend of emotions when I came on. It’s been a long time away from this jersey, away from the national team, but thank God everything went well, and I managed to return.”

Family support through recovery

Neymar also highlighted the crucial role his family played throughout his rehabilitation journey. He mentioned that his loved ones were fully aware of “all the struggles” he endured to regain fitness for the World Cup. Having them in the stands at Miami made the occasion even more meaningful for the number 10.

“They know everything I went through, all the battles I fought to be here today, and our goal was to represent the national team, to play again. It’s very emotional to see them there, excited and happy with my return,” he shared.

Prepared for the knockout challenge

Brazil’s 3-0 win, secured before Neymar entered the field, confirmed their top spot in Group C and ensured progression to the round of 32 with strong confidence. The victory over Scotland also helped Brazil refine their team dynamics and reintegrate Neymar into competitive action on American soil. The Selecão will next face the runner-up from Group F, which includes Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden.

“As I said, I’m very happy and now it’s the knockout stage — we need to keep winning to achieve our ultimate goal,” Neymar concluded.