Neymar has tied Pele’s 77-goal ‘official’ record for the men’s national team of Brazil with his goal against Croatia at the World Cup.
The Brazilian Football Confederation and Pele would not accept the record since they claim he scored 95 goals, despite the fact that the world football governing body Fifa stating otherwise.
Some of Pele’s goals came in friendlies against club teams, which Fifa has refused to count as being official goals.
Neymar has appeared in 124 games for Brazil in which he scored a record-equalling 77 goals, matching Pele’s total from 92 matches.
Pele, who helped Brazil win three World Cups in 1958, 1962, and 1970, is presently undergoing medical care in a Sao Paulo hospital.
Neymar’s total does not break the all-time Brazilian scoring record; Marta has 115 goals for the women’s team since 2002.
At the conclusion of the first extra period of Brazil’s quarterfinal match against Croatia, he teamed up with Lucas Paqueta of West Ham, avoided Borna Sosa, and blasted from four yards into the top of the net to tie the record.
However, although Bruno Petkovic tied the score with Croatia’s first attempt on goal in the 116th minute, his team lost 4-2 on penalties, with Neymar losing the opportunity of taking his spot-kick.
The 30-year-old made his international debut on August 10, 2010, and scored his first goal in a 2-0 victory over the USA in the 28th minute.
Eight of his goals—four in 2014, two in 2018, and two thus far in this World Cup in Qatar—have occurred in World Cups, while five more have come in Copa America.
His best World Cup run came in 2014 when Brazil reached the semi-finals, while his best Copa America campaign ended with a runner-up finish in 2021. He won the Confederations Cup in 2013.
Neymar Jr
Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, better known by his stage name Neymar, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays forward for both the Brazil national team and Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain. He was born on February 5, 1992.
He is recognized as one of the top players in the world because he is a prolific goal scorer and well-known playmaker.
Neymar has at least 100 goals for three separate clubs.
Neymar and Pelé are the top two goal scorers for their national team, each having scored 77 goals. Neymar has played 124 games for Brazil since making his debut at the age of 18.
Pele
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, is a former forward in Brazilian football who was born on October 23, 1940.
He was among the most accomplished and well-known athletes of the 20th century, and FIFA even named him “the greatest” player of all time.
He was named the International Olympic Committee’s Athlete of the Century in 1999, and Time named him one of the 100 most influential individuals of the 20th century.
Pelé is one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the Century award in 2000 and was selected as the World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).
He set a Guinness World Record for scoring 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, including friendlies.
