FIFA World Cup 2026: Neymar reacts on social media after making injury return

Neymar (Pic: AFP)

Brazil superstar Neymar shared an inspiring message on social media following his first appearance at the FIFA World Cup 2026 against Scotland. The veteran striker was nursing a calf injury and missed the opening two games of the tournament.

After Brazil's dominant 3-0 victory against Scotland, the star attacker uploaded a short yet impactful statement on Instagram.

"REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE." Neymar posted.

The 34-year-old stepped onto the pitch for Brazil for the first time since 2023, as a late second-half substitute. The calf injury kept Neymar out of action for a long duration, restricting his participation throughout Brazil's road to the finals.

By entering the pitch, the playmaker locked in his fourth consecutive FIFA World Cup campaign, securing a legendary milestone in his country's colours after previously representing Brazil at the 2014, 2018, and 2022 iterations of the global event.

Vinicius equals historic goal scoring record as Brazil top the group

Brazil cruised past Scotland with a 3-0 scoreline in their final Group C fixture, locking down the number one spot in the group and moving on to the round of 16 alongside runners-up Morocco. Star winger Vinicius Junior was the star, netting a first-half double, unlocking the opposition defence in the seventh minute before nodding home his second right before the interval. Matheus Cunha then added the third goal late in the second half.

The victory showed total control from the South American giants, with Scotland finding it difficult to fashion clear-cut opportunities despite mounting a few late attacks. The night stood out as a historic milestone for Vinicius, who became the first Brazilian player in 24 years to score in all three opening World Cup group games, matching the iconic exploits achieved by Ronaldo Nazario and Rivaldo back in 2002.

He is now just the fifth Brazilian footballer in history to reach this specific milestone. With this win, Brazil wrapped up their group stage matches with a total of seven points, whereas Scotland faces a nervous wait to discover if their three-point total will get them into the next stage as one of the top-ranked third-placed teams.

(With ANI inputs)