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Former Scotland international Craig Burley has strongly criticised Neymar after the Brazilian star’s emotional return to the World Cup stage. The outspoken football analyst suggested that the forward looked sluggish and lacking sharpness during his substitute appearance, implying that his inclusion in the squad may have been based more on sentiment than on sporting merit.

Iconic forward marks international return

The Selecao talisman made his long-awaited comeback under manager Carlo Ancelotti in Brazil’s commanding 3-0 victory over Scotland at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Coming off the bench with 30 minutes remaining in the second half, the forward ended a gruelling 981-day absence that stemmed from a serious knee injury suffered in October 2023. Although the occasion was celebrated by fans and teammates alike, his performance drew scrutiny from commentators who questioned his match fitness and overall tempo.

Burley questions ‘sentimental’ call-up

Despite statistical data showing that Neymar created three scoring chances, Burley remained unconvinced by his movement. Speaking on ESPN, he said: “You looked at when Neymar came on, there was a lot of excitement in the crowd and I’m sure back in Brazil too, about this iconic player finally getting back into the squad and eventually stepping onto the pitch.

“But honestly, if you’re Joao Pedro or one or two others who didn’t make the cut, you’d look at that and think this is just a sentimental pick. Yes, I understand he hasn’t had much game time, but he just looked so sluggish, off the pace, as if the game was passing him by.

“If Brazil have to rely on him in the latter stages of the tournament, that’s the big question — can he actually make an impact against stronger opposition? He even seemed to struggle when he came on against Scotland.

“I know [Igor] Thiago, [Matheus] Cunha and Endrick are all available options up front, though they’re inexperienced at this level. But in a tournament like this, you need players who can change the game from the bench. To me, selecting Neymar looked more like a sentimental decision than a tactical one.”

Emotions overflow after comeback

After the final whistle, Neymar was visibly emotional, breaking down in tears on the pitch as the weight of his long recovery journey finally lifted. The forward explained that his reaction was a natural release after nearly three years away from international football.

Neymar said: “My heart was racing, I felt very nervous… but happy! Proud that everything went well. I’m overjoyed to be wearing the national team jersey again after three years. Physically, I feel good, thank God.

“It was tough being sidelined for such a long period, but I wasn’t entirely inactive. I’ve been training hard for 25 days to be in good shape for these games. Coming back brought a flood of emotions — it’s been a long time away from this jersey and the national team, but thank God everything worked out and I managed to return.”

Brazil prepare for Japan challenge

Brazil have advanced comfortably to the round of 32 as winners of Group C, maintaining a buoyant atmosphere within the squad. Carlo Ancelotti’s men now face a disciplined Japanese side on Monday, June 29 — a fixture expected to present a tougher tactical test than their previous match. It remains uncertain whether the veteran coach will continue to ease Neymar back into action or instead rely on younger, more dynamic forwards from the bench.