Neymar Steals the Spotlight in Brazil’s World Cup Opener Build-Up

Neymar drew attention in Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Morocco at the 2026 World Cup even though he was not fully fit and did not play. The former Brazil star, who has already returned home to Santos, is still not at 100 percent, but he still became one of the main stories around the match in New Jersey.

Before kickoff at MetLife Stadium, Neymar was welcomed from the bench by two high-profile visitors: NFL legend Tom Brady and rapper Travis Scott. The two came over to greet him, shake his hand and ask how he was doing. Social media posts from the scene showed the three together, highlighting Neymar’s continued star power even while sidelined.

After the match, Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi also approached Neymar, spoke with him and gave him his shirt. The article said Neymar “somehow managed to steal the show” despite not taking part in the game, which came during Brazil’s World Cup debut.

The piece also noted the broader context, Neymar was long the unquestioned king of Brazil’s national team, but much has changed since then. For now, his presence on the bench, and the attention he generated from global sports and entertainment figures, remained the main storyline surrounding Brazil’s opener.