Brazil talisman Neymar opened up about his return to the international stage following his first appearance in what is now his fourth World Cup. The superstar spoke of his pride in representing the ‘Canarinha’ again, admitting the road to recovery “was not easy at all.”
Neymar insisted on Wednesday that his mind was clear as he stepped onto the pitch during Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Scotland, marking his first appearance for the ‘Selecao’ in nearly three years.
“I didn’t think about anything when I came on, I just felt grateful for the moment,” he told reporters in the mixed zone. The iconic No. 10 replaced Matheus Cunha in the 76th minute, sparking a thunderous ovation from the Brazilian faithful.
Supporters had been vocal in their desire to see the star, chanting “Neymar, Neymar” at manager Carlo Ancelotti throughout the second half, before erupting when the Italian tactician finally signalled for him to warm up.
Neymar spoke of his immense pride at returning for the ‘Canarinha’, reiterating his devotion to the shirt. “My goal was to play in the World Cup, to play for the national team,” he said, acknowledging that “it was not easy to get here,” despite his “calm” demeanour on the field.
It was the first time the five-time world champions had called upon their star man since 17 October 2023, when he suffered a devastating knee injury during a qualifier against Uruguay in Montevideo.
The winger, who remains Brazil’s all-time record scorer with 79 goals, endured a year-long rehabilitation process before a fresh injury setback last May restricted him to individual training until only last week.
By taking to the field today, Neymar becomes just the fourth Brazilian in history to feature in four World Cups, joining the legendary trio of Djalma Santos, Pele, and Cafu.
