Neymar is ready for his 2026 World Cup debut.
The Brazil star will be available for Brazil’s third and final World Cup group match against Scotland on Wednesday, June 24, coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters a day before match day.
“Neymar is available,” Ancelotti said. “He worked this week and can be available for the match. We are very happy that he is back because, obviously, with his quality, he can help the team.”
It’s a big step for the 34-year-old forward, trying to get on the pitch for the national team for the first time in three years. He has been dealing with a calf injury he sustained with his club team, Santos FC, in May that has kept him out of action since then.
While he was on the sideline as he missed Brazil’s first two matches of the World Cup, Neymar had been training individually and on Friday, June 19, Ancelotti said he would begin training with the team and was on track to be available for the Scotland match.
“He has worked very seriously, trying to recover as quickly as possible,” Ancelotti said. “I’m very happy with him. Even if he doesn’t play, he brings experience, he brings knowledge of the game, he helps the younger players. He is doing very well.”
However, Ancelotti wouldn’t commit to whether or not Neymar will be in the starting XI or come on as a substitution, having some fun with the media about the possibilities.
“He can play 90 minutes − walking,” he joked. “No, he’s fine, he worked very well, he trained very well.”
In 129 international appearances, Neymar has 79 goals, making him Brazil’s all-time top scorer, and this would be his fourth World Cup.
Brazil heads into the match in first place in Group C, tied with Morocco with four points but ahead with a plus-3 goal differential, compared to plus-1 for Morocco, positioning itself well to win the group. The match will be at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, at 6 p.m. ET.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Neymar is ‘available’ for Brazil vs. Scotland, but will he play?
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