Neymar returns after 981 days as Vini shines in Brazil’s win: Scotland on the brink of elimination

Last Updated on 25 June 2026

The moment Miami had been waiting for arrived quietly in the 76th minute. A substitution board went up. A stadium already buzzing fell briefly silent and then erupted.

After 981 days, two torn ligaments, a club move back to Santos and a calf injury that nearly ended his World Cup before it began, Neymar was back in a Brazil shirt.

Around him, a Scotland side already three goals down searched desperately for any reason to believe they could still survive. They found very little. Check out our explainer to understand the qualification scenarios in detail.

Vini steals the show on Neymar’s return and Brazil return to ruthless form

Vinicius Jr. opened the scoring in just the 7th minute, capitalising on a catastrophic error from Scotland defender Scott McKenna, whose backpass straight to the Brazilian allowed him to roll the ball into an empty net. It was a disaster Scotland simply could not recover from.

On the stroke of half-time, Vini headed home Brazil’s second, timing his run perfectly to nod home a Bruno Guimaraes cross unmarked at the back post. A brace, four World Cup goals in total, and a half that comprehensively answered important questions about Brazil’s firepower.

Matheus Cunha then added a third before the hour, slicing through Scotland’s defence with the kind of fluid counter-attacking move that confirmed Brazil are very much back in business. Then, on 76 minutes, the moment that the Brazilians desperately wanted to see after their anger over Endrick.

Neymar entered the pitch to an explosion of noise, making his World Cup debut 981 days after last pulling on a Brazil shirt: his fourth World Cup tournament, and one he almost missed entirely. He looked the part, albeit for moments. The desire remains. The sharpness will follow.

Scotland on the Brink and relying on everyone else

For Scotland, the arithmetic is brutal and entirely out of their hands. Brazil put 3 past them: a scoreline that leaves Scotland as one of the worst third-placed sides in the tournament. They finish on three points, with a goal difference of minus-two at minimum.

The Scots must now hope that other groups produce third-placed teams with worse records. Given that several third-placed sides around the tournament are sitting with better GD, the chances are slim. It seems to be a painful end to what started so promisingly.

Meanwhile, in Group B, Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed their place in the Round of 32 with a 3-1 win over Qatar, ending a group-stage campaign that sees them likely face the United States in the knockout round. Can Scotland join Bosnia as one of the third-placed sides?