Neymar - the return of Brazil's forgotten hero

Neymar played 20 minutes against Scotland in Miami [Getty Images] "Neymar needs no ulterior motivation. Everyone loves him here." If Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti needed any evidence to back up his statement in a makeshift Miami press room on Wednesday, he did not need to delve too deeply. Just a few hours earlier, in the stuffy and sticky area of Miami Gardens, any sign of the nation's forgotten prodigal son was met with hysteria. Pure and unadulterated fandom in all its blazing yellow glory. Almost three years had passed since Neymar last pulled on the shirt of his country. Now, in a World Cup where he is no longer Brazil's leading light, there was an opportunity. Injury had robbed him of so much. An anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus tear in a World Cup qualifier in October 2023 ruled the forward out of selection for so long, with a lack of game time as he recovered not helping. Now 34, his time in the international spotlight shone in Miami as Scotland withered in the stifling shade. Scotland's World Cup hopes on brink after 3-0 defeat by Brazil Miami Stadium has four screens which are probably viewable from the International Space Station. Commander Sergey Kud-Sverchkov could probably hear the roar from his orbital perch as Neymar's name flashed up on it before this Group C finale. As Vinicius Jnr punished Scotland twice in the first half before Matheus Cunha slotted in a third, abrupt cheers exploded from the stands. Some for Haiti goals in Atlanta, but most were reserved for any sign of the Santos man. You can imagine the eruption as he shed his warm-up bib, took the short walk to the side of the park, and trotted on to replace Cunha. "He had the opportunity to play, because I think he deserved to play. He trained and worked hard to recover, with professionalism," said Ancelotti in his victorious news conference. "For this World Cup, I think that he can help the team with his qualities. I think he played well, the few minutes he was on the pitch. "Neymar needs no ulterior motivation. Everyone loves him here. He needs no motivation to wear the colours of Brazil. "Neymar is still the same, and at 34, he has the same passion he had as a kid." While the damage had already been done by the new hopes of Selecao, the old timer showed flashes of what could still be to come in the canary yellow of his nation. He spent 20 minutes on the park, enjoying 24 touches - the man he replaced on 76 minutes managed just 14 more. He also managed a shot on target. Really, it did not matter. The big screens once again locked on to him post match as he went over to the fans before embracing his young daughter at the front of the stand. A hero had returned for Brazil at a time where the want for greatness is craved ferociously. The five-time world champions have been without the game's biggest prize since 2002. You have to go back to 2019 for their last tournament win when their ninth Copa America was bagged. Under Ancelotti, the Brazilians have been inconsistent. Wins have not been achieved against Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Japan, Tunisia, France and, most recently, Morocco. Against a self-sabotaging Scotland, they had spells of swagger, with a ruthless streak cooked in for good measure. Supporters drifted out of the Miami Stadium rejoicing, for the victory which has them topping Group C, and because their forgotten man played his part. "Pele is the best player of all time. No comparison," one supporter told BBC Sport as he headed out the ground. "He won three World Cups for Brazil. "Neymar will be among the best ones. He could be in the same level as Ronaldo or Ronaldinho if he wins the World Cup. "I was in 2016 at Maracana, when he was the guy who scored the decider at the Olympics, and that was a title that Brazil never had before, but the World Cup is the title that we need, and we're going for the six stars. "I think he's able to open up the field and bring out jogo bonito [play beautifully], as they say. "They have to respect who he is and who he once was, because if you don't, he'll make you pay, that's for sure." Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup