Neymar Jr. has been named on the bench for Brazil's final FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C match against Scotland, marking his return to the squad after recovering from a calf injury. Forward Rayan comes in to replace the injured winger Raphinha.
Neymar's Long Road Back
Neymar has not played for Brazil since October 2023, when he suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. The setback sidelined him for an extended period and limited his involvement during Brazil's qualification campaign.
While the squad traveled to Philadelphia for Brazil's match against Haiti—which the five-time champions won 4-0—Neymar remained at Brazil's training base in New Jersey to continue an individual rehabilitation program. The veteran forward resumed on-field work over the weekend, taking part in physical and ball drills as he stepped up his recovery.
Coach Ancelotti's Strategy
Ahead of the Scotland match, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said the team's focus remains on fielding the strongest possible lineup for the decisive fixture. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Ancelotti stated, "We're thinking of nothing else but playing a good match with the best possible line-up; the same goes for the forwards," via Globo as quoted by The Athletic. He added, "We have a clear idea of who will replace Raphinha; there's no point worrying about cards."
Raphinha's Injury
Raphinha limped off the field in the 40th minute of Brazil's 4-0 win over Haiti in their previous group-stage encounter after picking up an injury. The winger later expressed optimism over his recovery, posting on Instagram that he will "do everything in my power to recover and return as soon as possible."
Brazil vs Scotland Line-ups
Brazil: Alisson, Danilo, Gabriel Magalhaes, Marquinhos, Douglas Santos, Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta, Rayan, Vinicius Jr, Matheus Cunha.
Scotland: Angus Gunn, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Jack Hendry, Ben Gannon-Doak, Lewis Ferguson, Lawrence Shankland, Nathan Patterson, Kenny McLean, Scott McKenna.
