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Neymar scored on his return to action after three months out through injury as Brazil warmed up for the World Cup with a 2-0 friendly win over Croatia at Liverpool’s Anfield ground in England on Sunday.
The world’s most expensive player has been sidelined since February 25, when he fractured a metatarsal and sprained his ankle playing for Paris St Germain in a French league match against Olympique de Marseille.
But the former Barcelona forward, key to his country’s hopes in Russia, came on as a halftime substitute and provided the moment of inspiration for win the game in the 69th minute.
The 26-year-old cut inside and skipped past two defenders before blasting home off the underside of the crossbar for his 54th goal for his country, needing one to reach Romario as the third most prolific Brazil striker of all time behind Pele and Ronaldo.
Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino delighted the Anfield crowd by adding the second in stoppage-time with a well-taken lob from inside the area.
Brazil’s opening game in World Cup Group E is against Switzerland and they also face Costa Rica and Serbia in the first round.
The five-times world champions have one more friendly before the tournament, against Austria in Vienna on June 10.
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