Neymar marked his return to international football after a 981-day absence as Brazil secured a 3-0 victory over Scotland in the FIFA World Cup and booked their place in the Round of 32.

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti had confirmed before the match that Neymar would be involved, although the forward began the game among the substitutes. The 34-year-old entered the contest in the 76th minute, replacing Matheus Cunha and receiving a warm reception from supporters.

The appearance represented a significant milestone in Neymar's career. By taking the field against Scotland, he became one of a select group of players to participate in four consecutive FIFA World Cups.

Following the final whistle, Neymar was visibly emotional as he reflected on his return to the national team after an extended period away that included injury setbacks and rehabilitation. He later celebrated the occasion with family members on the sidelines.

The Brazil forward entered the tournament after recovering from a right calf injury that had sidelined him for more than a month. He returned to full training shortly before the match and was deemed fit enough to make his long-awaited comeback.

Neymar remains Brazil's all-time leading scorer, having recorded 79 goals in 129 appearances for the national team. Across his four World Cup campaigns, he has scored eight goals while continuing to play an important role in Brazil's international journey.

Brazil's victory was driven by another impressive performance from Vinicius Junior. The Real Madrid forward scored twice as the Selecao controlled the match against Scotland. Vinicius opened the scoring in the seventh minute before adding a second goal shortly before halftime.

Matheus Cunha also found the net, scoring for the second consecutive match to help secure a comfortable win.

The result moved Brazil into the knockout stage of the tournament, while Vinicius continued his strong form with four goals in the competition, placing him among the leading scorers at the World Cup.