Neymar reveals he 'shed a few tears' in dressing room after emotional Brazil return

The 34-year-old last featured for Brazil ‌in 2023. He suffered a serious knee injury ‌in October that year and has struggled to maintain his form since then. He was initially ‌a doubt for inclusion in Brazil's ⁠World Cup squad.

He ‌then suffered a calf injury last month that ruled ​him out of Brazil's first two matches in the tournament. But he finally ​made his international comeback against Scotland, with the fans chanting his name.

"I went to the ⁠locker room, all ​alone, and I shed a few tears," Neymar told reporters after Brazil finished top of Group C.

"It’s an immense relief to relive all ‌this. It’s a moment of gratitude. I thank God for being able to experience this again."

Brazil's all-time top scorer with 79 goals, Neymar has now appeared in four World Cups, with eight goals and four assists in tournaments since 2014.

"I had been away for a long time so it’s a different team ‌now, I see it with fresh eyes," ​he said.

"But I’m very happy to have ‌been able to come back and play in a World Cup and defend the Brazilian national team after so many years."

Brazil will play the runners-up in Group F in ⁠their second-round clash ⁠in Houston on ‌Monday.