#106962 · 03.07.2026

Vinícius Júnior leads Brazil past Scotland as Neymar makes return

Today, 08:13 1,167 0

A relentless high press and a clinical brace from Vinícius Júnior propelled Brazil to a 3-0 victory over Scotland on Wednesday. While the win secured the top spot in the group, the match was defined by the long-awaited return of Neymar Jr, who stepped onto the pitch for the first time since October 2023.

Scotland arrived at the match with a strategy built on defensive discipline, aiming to grind out a result to bolster their chances of reaching the Round of 32. That tactical blueprint crumbled in the seventh minute when Scott McKenna surrendered possession to Rayan. The forward immediately fed Júnior, who bypassed the goalkeeper to open the scoring. Despite a brief reprieve when VAR overturned a second Brazilian goal, the Scottish defense could not hold the line through the whistle.

Bruno Guimarães dictated the tempo after the break, delivering a precise cross to the back post where Júnior headed home his second goal in the 48th minute. The rout was completed shortly after, with Guimarães setting up Matheus Cunha for a simple finish that marked his third goal of the tournament. The result pushes Brazil ahead of Morocco on goal difference, setting the stage for their knockout campaign. For the squad, the momentum of the victory was eclipsed by the sight of Neymar playing competitive minutes again following his recovery from an ACL tear.