The FIFA World Cup is already in full swing. The road to the Round of 32 is taking shape, and football’s biggest stars have wasted little time leaving their mark. For defending champions Argentina, Lionel Messi has lit up the tournament with five goals in two matches, climbing to the summit of the World Cup’s all-time scoring charts.
France’s Kylian Mbappé is close behind, while Norway’s Viking marksman Erling Haaland has struck four times himself. Brazil’s Vinicius Junior and Matheus Cunha have also joined the scoresheet with two goals apiece.
Yet amid the flood of goals, celebrations and headlines, one name remains absent. Neymar Junior.
While the game’s biggest stars are scoring goals, winning matches for their countries and lighting up football’s grandest stage, Neymar has spent Brazil’s first two matches on the bench. The reason, unsurprisingly, is injury. A calf strain has kept him sidelined since May.
There is, however, encouraging news for Brazil supporters. Coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to include Neymar in the matchday squad for Brazil’s final group-stage game against Scotland on June 25, although a place in the starting XI remains far from certain.
Even if he only makes an appearance off the bench, it would still feel like a bonus for Brazil. Neymar’s presence is not just significant for his national team; it is an event for the World Cup itself. Brazil fans will flock to Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, but many among the 65,000 spectators will not be there simply to watch Brazil play. They will be there hoping to witness Neymar’s artistry, his flair and the moments of magic that have defined his career.
Beyond entertaining fans and filling stadiums, Neymar’s return carries significance on several other levels. After navigating a career filled with highs and lows, setbacks and recurring injuries, he remains relevant in an increasingly commercialized World Cup landscape. For viewers, media outlets, sponsors, broadcasters and tournament organizers, Neymar is still one of football’s most compelling figures. Simply because he is Neymar, his presence creates a storyline. It also keeps alive the rich legacy and grandeur that Brazil has carried through generations of World Cup history.
From 2014 to 2026, Neymar has featured in four World Cups. Despite an injury-plagued career, he has managed 13 World Cup appearances, scoring eight goals and providing four assists. Yet statistics alone only deepen the sense of regret among Brazil supporters. More often than celebrating what he has achieved in the famous yellow shirt, they find themselves wondering what more he might have accomplished. That is the burden that comes with being Neymar.
From Pelé, Garrincha to Ronaldo Nazário and Kaka, Brazil has produced generations of football royalty. The skinny teenager with the extravagant hairstyles became the heir to all those expectations. Every World Cup brought renewed belief that Neymar would finally deliver Brazil’s long-awaited sixth title, the elusive Hexa. But it never happened.
Then again, Brazil’s World Cup drought did not begin with Neymar. The Selecao have not lifted the trophy since 2002 and have not even reached a final since then. That reality only magnified the pressure placed upon his shoulders.
In truth, Neymar’s inclusion in Ancelotti’s World Cup squad was arguably a bigger story than the prospect of him actually playing. When the veteran coach saved Neymar’s name until the very end of the squad announcement, the reaction was priceless. It was the release of a breath held in suspense, a moment of relief and emotion. All because the possibility remained that he would once again wear Brazil’s yellow jersey at the World Cup.
Neymar suffered a Grade 2 calf injury on May 17 while playing for Santos against Coritiba in Brazil’s Série A. He has since recovered, and teammate Gabriel Martinelli said, “He’s at a very high level and eager to play.”
The 34-year-old forward has not played for Brazil since October 17, 2023. If he takes the field against Scotland, that wait will finally come to an end. His teammates are eagerly anticipating his return as well.
“Everyone knows his quality. We can see how motivated he is, and we’re happy to have a player like him available and showing the attitude and desire he has been demonstrating”, Martinelli told reporters on Monday.
Through everything, it is that hunger that continues to fuel Neymar.
Football is a performing art, and sometimes mere presence can be as powerful as performance itself. Neymar belongs to that rare category.
Brazil supporters will arrive at Hard Rock Stadium carrying hope in their hearts. They will hope to see their beloved prince score goals, inspire joy and once again captivate the world. They will hope he finally becomes the king they have long imagined, the king who has spent so many years trapped in the role of a prince.
