Neymar beats Pele’s record to become Brazil’s all-time top scorer


Neymar became Brazil’s all-time top scorer with his goal against Bolivia on Friday taking him to 78 goals and surpassing Pele’s record.


Brazil’s Neymar celebrates scoring his side’s 4th goal against Bolivia during a qualifying match for the FIFA World Cup 2026. | Photo Credit: AP

Neymar became the top goal scorer for Brazil’s national team after surpassing the total of three-time World Cup winner Pelé on Friday.

The goal that put the 31-year-old Neymar on the top of Brazil’s scoring record with 78 came in the 61st minute in a World Cup qualifying match against Bolivia in the Amazon city of Belém.


It was Brazil’s fourth goal of the match in a 5-1 win, with the last goal of the game also being scored by Neymar — his 79th — during injury time.

Neymar’s record-breaking goal came after a low cross into the penalty box, which the striker finished with accuracy from close range. He celebrated with a punch in the air, as Pelé usually did.

“I am very happy, no words for this,” Neymar said in brief comments to media after he was handed a plaque by the president of the Brazilian football confederation, Ednaldo Rodrigues. “I never thought I would reach this record.”

AS IT HAPPENED | BRAZIL VS BOLIVIA FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS HIGHLIGHTS

Earlier, the Al-Hilal striker missed a penalty in the 17th minute, which goalkeeper Billy Viscarra saved. Neymar’s second goal in the match came in similar fashion near the final whistle, with another low cross by Raphinha.

Brazil’s football confederation considers Pelé as its top goal scorer with 95 goals in 114 matches. FIFA does not count goals that Pelé had at national team friendlies against clubs.


“78 times Neymar,” the Brazilian football body said on social media after Neymar’s record-breaking goal. “Neymar scores the fifth for the Selecao,” it said after the striker’s second goal against Bolivia.

Rodrigues, the president of Brazil’s football body, reiterated Neymar had become “the all-time top goal-scorer for Brazil in matches against national teams.”

Pelé’s Foundation, however, acknowledged Neymar’s achievement.

“Congratulations, Neymar Jr, for surpassing the King in goals for the Brazilian National Team in official FIFA matches,” it said on social media. “Surely Pelé is applauding you today!”

Pelé died from cancer on December 29 in Sao Paulo at the age of 82.

“I want to say that this (the record) doesn’t mean I am better than him (Pelé) or than any national team player,” Neymar added in his short statement. “I always wanted to write my story in the national team, and today I did that.”

Neymar’s most-recent match for Brazil before the victory over Bolivia was the World Cup quarterfinal loss last year to Croatia. He left Qatar with doubts about his future in the national team and did not play the Selecao’s first three games this year.

New Brazil coach Fernando Diniz said Neymar came to play for Brazil “to score goals, break records, show that he is very much willing to live this (the national team.)”

“He is a great hero,” Diniz said. “People have to recognize it and accept it. He doesn’t do anything to get this adoration he gets from the crowd. It is because of the natural talent he has.”



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Neymar the football pitch swimmer

Records are meant to be Broken!!

Incredible this Generation is bless
All the records of old are been broken or rewritten

Messi, Ronaldo ,. Neymar etc

In the words of Neymar


"I want to say that this (the record) doesn’t mean I am better than him (Pelé) or than any national team player,” Neymar added in his short statement. “I always wanted to write my story in the national team, and today I did that.”

So guys how will you rate Neymar When legend's are mentioned

Has he really lived up to the expectation

Starboy wey sabi play ball! Brazilian samba king living his life to the fullest. I so much envy this dude, man too fine, come sabi ball, and on top of am still get money.

Congrats Ney! More records are up for the taking.

Nice. Check my profile for your smoke detectors, 4G ptz cctv camera , terrameters and solar flood lights

All this records will be broken when my son starts playing football

H

Brazilians are God of Soccer/football ⚽️.
Legacy remains on their so8l

Congratulations

Wow!
Congrats to Neymar


I still remember watching Pele's movie

He was a great footballer indeed and brought the Brazilian team to light.

cool

Wealthoptulent:
Brazilians are God of Soccer/football ⚽️.
Legacy remains on their so8l

yes oo Pele, Socrates, cerezo, Romario, R9, Carlos, Cafu, dinho, neymar,

Wodu89:


Neymar the football pitch swimmer

Diver.

This guy sef…

Sharp

Osimen will break that record

monle:
All this records will be broken when my son starts playing football

Dem no de play football by motivational talk

Oh! He started breaking records when he got to Saudi league..why not in Europe..Well done to him.

The prince that never became a king,what a wasted talent.This guy should have been better than he is now.

Tomorrow, Neymar go say hin be GOAT of Brazil

He's never under pressure.
He does anything he likes with the ball.

He displays his skills at any given time.


Congrats finest baller

Injury just wasted Neymar's career. Ever since he left Barca, he lost touch with the game. In my opinion, he deserved to win the Ballo 'dor

Neymar. The Real Starboy.

Thats why my monika is Starboytwo. The homage. The respect.

There are many Starboys , wizzy etc. But Neymar is the Real Starboy.

Brazil more or less is synonyms to ⚽

From Pele, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Zico, Romario, Bebeto Rivaldo, Robinho, Adriano he is the TOP SCORER.

A baller is a baller.