Much anticipated! At 34, Neymar returns to play for Brazil after 981 days, delivering two brilliant passes in 19 minutes.

In the decisive Group C match of the World Cup on June 25 Beijing time, Brazil triumphed 3-0 against Scotland, securing first place in the group and a spot in the knockout rounds. During this game, the 34-year-old star Neymar entered the pitch as a substitute in the 76th minute, making his long-awaited first appearance in this World Cup under the eager eyes of fans.

Since being injured in a Brasileirão match on the 17th of last month, Neymar has been sidelined from training for a full month because of a calf issue. Although Neymar managed to secure a spot on Brazil's 26-man squad for the World Cup, he missed the first two group-stage matches consecutively. His absence even prompted a playful remark from Brazilian President Lula, who joked that Neymar was "working remotely" during the World Cup.

Fortunately, just before the final group-stage match, Neymar recovered in time and made his debut as a substitute. This marked his first appearance for the Brazilian national team in 981 days.

Neymar's last outing for Brazil was on October 18, 2023, in a 0-2 loss to Uruguay. This game also represented his fourth appearance on the World Cup stage.

After coming on, Neymar was very active, taking multiple set pieces and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. In the 90th minute, he also took his first shot of this World Cup.

According to post-match statistics, during his 19 minutes on the pitch, Neymar had 22 touches, one shot on target, and provided two key passes to his teammates, earning a decent score of 6.5. In his comeback debut, Neymar displayed impressive form and competitive sharpness.