On a night of glory, Neymar junior wrote his name in the football record books by surpass the legend Pelé as the top scorer of the Brazilian team. The Saudi Al-Hilal striker scored an impressive double in the 5-1 victory over Bolivia On the first day of the South American Qualifiers, thus reaching a milestone that he never imagined reaching. The former PSG, always humble and respectful of historical figures, was quick to put things into perspective after the game. Despite having surpassed O’Rei, the São Paulo player does not believe he is better than the late idol.
“I’m very happy. I never imagined I would break that record. “But I don’t want to say that I’m better than Pelé just because I surpassed him in this record,” declared the Brazilian striker. This attitude reflects Neymar’s admiration for Pelé’s legacy in world football.
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The exciting moment occurred in the Amazonian city of Belém, where Neymar received a commemorative plaque from the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Ednaldo Rodrigues, in recognition of his historic achievement.
With the two goals scored in this match, Neymar reached a total of 79 goals with the Canarinha shirt, thus surpassing the 77 goals that Pelé scored throughout his unparalleled career. However, it is important to mention that there is a difference in the figures due to the way goals are counted.
FIFA previously recognized Neymar with 77 goals, but the CBF, which includes some friendly matches against clubs, attributes a total of 95 goals to Pelé compared to Neymar’s now 79. This discrepancy in no way diminishes the achievement of Neymar, who remains an iconic figure in world football.
Neymar and the legends he surpassed
This historic achievement by Neymar is not only a tribute to his skill and dedication on the field, but also a tribute to the rich history of Brazilian football. Behind Neymar and Pelé on the list of Canarinha’s top scorers are illustrious names such as Ronaldo Nazário, Romário, Zico, Bebeto, Rivaldo, Jairzinho, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Ademir and Tostão, all of whom contributed significantly to the greatness of football Brazilian.
On the second day of the South American qualifiers, Brazil will face Peru in Lima next Tuesday, while Bolivia will host Argentina in La Paz. These matches promise more emotions and memorable moments on the exciting route to the 2026 World Cup.
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