Neymar hails Messi as Brazil beats Scotland 3-0 in World Cup

Brazilian star Neymar praised Argentina captain Lionel Messi, saying, "He is excellent on the pitch, but off the field he is many times better," and called him a great friend. In the same tournament, Neymar returned to the field after a month‑long injury layoff, entering as a substitute in the 76th minute of Brazil’s 3‑0 victory over Scotland, which secured the Selecao’s place in the knockout stage. Coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed Neymar was fully fit and had trained well in the days leading up to the match. The win moved Brazil closer to the World Cup round of 16, while Neymar, Brazil’s all‑time top scorer with 79 goals, added another appearance after recovering from a torn ACL.

The match, played at Hard Rock Stadium, saw fans cheer loudly as Neymar took the pitch, marking his first World Cup appearance since his injury. Despite doubts about his form, the veteran forward remains a key figure for Brazil, having scored eight World Cup goals across three tournaments.