FIFA World Cup 2026: Neymar named on bench for Brazil against Scotland, Rayan replaces Raphinha
Florida, June 25
Neymar Jr. has been named on the bench for Brazil's final FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C match against Scotland, marking his return to the squad after recovering from a calf injury. Meanwhile, forward Rayan comes in to replace the injured winger Raphinha.
Neymar has not taken a field for Brazil since October 2023, when he suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. The setback sidelined him for an extended period and limited his involvement during Brazil's qualification campaign.
Earlier, ahead of the Scotland match, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said the team's focus remains on fielding the strongest possible lineup for the decisive fixture.
"We're thinking of nothing else but playing a good match with the best possible line-up; the same goes for the forwards," he had said, via Globo as quoted by The Athletic.
The head coach added, "We have a clear idea of who will replace Raphinha; there's no point worrying about cards."
Notably, while the squad travelled to Philadelphia for Brazil's match against Haiti which the five-time champions eventually won 4-0, Neymar remained at Brazil's training base in New Jersey to continue an individual rehabilitation programme. The veteran forward resumed on-field work over the weekend, taking part in physical and ball drills as he stepped up his recovery.
Meanwhile, Raphinha limped off from the field in the 40th minute of Brazil's 4-0 win over Haiti in their previous group-stage encounter after picking up an injury. The winger later expressed optimism over his recovery, posting on Instagram that he will "do everything in my power to recover and return as soon as possible."
Brazil vs Scotland FIFA World Cup 2026 line-ups.
Brazil: Alisson, Danilo, Gabriel Magalhaes, Marquinhos, Douglas Santos, Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta, Rayan, Vinicius Jr, Matheus Cunha.
Scotland: Angus Gunn, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Jack Hendry, Ben Gannon-Doak, Lewis Ferguson, Lawrence Shankland, Nathan Patterson, Kenny McLean, Scott McKenna.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a football fan in India, I'm thrilled to see Neymar back even if it's just on the bench. But honestly, I think Brazil should focus on building a team without relying so much on him. Vinicius Jr and Rayan are the future! We don't want another situation where Neymar gets injured again. Good luck to Scotland too—they have a tough group.
Honestly, I'm not a fan of this decision. Ancelotti is risking Neymar's long-term fitness for a group stage match. We have enough depth—Rayan has been solid, and Vinicius Jr is in top form. Let Neymar rest properly and come back in the knockout stages. Otherwise, we might repeat the same mistake as 2022.
Scotland vs Brazil—this is going to be an interesting match! I'm curious to see how Rayan performs filling in for Raphinha. As for Neymar, I hope he gets a few minutes off the bench to regain match fitness. Brazil's depth is incredible—look at that lineup! Alisson, Marquinhos, Casemiro... pure class. 😍
I'm not sure why everyone is so obsessed with Neymar. He's a legend, sure, but Brazil has moved on. The team played brilliantly against Haiti without him. Let the young guns shine—players like Vinicius Jr, Rayan, and Matheus Cunha are the future. But I do wish Raphinha a speedy recovery! 🙏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.