Remember who you are! Neymar draws inspiration from Lewis Hamilton after Brazil comeback
981 and 686.
The first is how many days it took Neymar Jr. to return to international football with Brazil. The second represents the number of days Lewis Hamilton went without a Formula 1 win before ending his drought.
Different sports, different paths, but united by a familiar theme – resilience in the face of setbacks.
Shortly after returning to Brazil’s colors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Neymar shared a photo of himself from the match against Scotland on social media with the simple caption: “Remember who you are”. It was the same sentence Hamilton wrote after ending his winless streak and claiming victory in the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
Champions seem to speak the same language.
For most of the last decade, Neymar was expected to inherit the football throne from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Instead, his career has been defined by recurring injuries that have repeatedly disrupted his momentum in crucial moments.
Each time he emerged ready to reclaim center stage, another setback followed.
Injuries ultimately changed the trajectory of his career. He was flown from European football to Saudi Arabia and later back home to Brazil. Over the past three years, Neymar has missed more than 100 games across club and international football, spending long periods on the sidelines of major tournaments and defining moments as they pass.
Hence his appearance against Scotland on 24 June Wednesday carried meaning beyond the result itself.
RETURN AGAINST SCOTLAND AT THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP
Neymar celebrates after Brazil qualified for the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup (Photo Rueters)
After 981 days away from the Selecao, Neymar finally returned to the national team squad as Brazil cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win to qualify for the knockout stages of the ongoing World Cup.
It was a comeback that, until recently, seemed far from guaranteed.
The return also came during the renewed inspection. A few days ago, Brazil’s president mocked the striker, describing him as a “footballer working from home”, while questioning his long-term absence due to injury concerns.
Neymar’s response was characteristically understated.
Rather than engage in a war of words, he let his work behind the scenes do the talking. The boots were back, the yellow shirt back on his shoulders and after almost three years, Neymar was once again representing Brazil on the international stage.
Whether this marks the beginning of one final chapter or the beginning of a sustained revival remains to be seen. But for now, Neymar seems to be embracing the same message that helped inspire Hamilton during one of the toughest periods of his career:
Remember who you are.
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Published on:
25 Jun 2026 17:22 IST