Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley has expressed skepticism about Neymar Jr’s current influence on the Brazilian national team after the star made a cameo in a 3-0 win against Scotland on June 24. While Neymar remains one of his generation’s top talents, ongoing injury issues have frequently disrupted his career, leaving many to wonder if he has truly reached his ceiling.
Entering the match for Matheus Cunha in the 76th minute, Neymar made his first national team appearance since October 2023. Although the Miami Stadium crowd cheered for the nation’s all-time leading scorer, who has tallied 79 goals in 129 appearances, observers remain uncertain about his impact. During an ESPN segment, Burley characterized the selection as potentially sentimental.
Burley noted that while fans are excited, the 34-year-old looked physically off the pace and struggled against Scotland. He questioned whether Neymar could provide a genuine impact against high-level opponents in the knockout rounds, given his current lack of sharpness. Brazil has successfully moved into the next stage of the tournament as the leaders of Group C.
