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Neymar has overtaken Pele to change into Brazil‘s all-time males’s high scorer, netting twice in his nationwide crew 5-1 win in a World Cup qualifying match in opposition to Bolivia within the Amazon metropolis of Belém.
The Al Hilal ahead was tied with Pele, who scored 77 targets for Brazil between 1957 and 1971. Neymar now has 79 targets in 125 worldwide appearances.
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“I by no means imagined reaching this report. I wish to say that I’m not higher participant than Pele,” mentioned Neymar after the sport. “I at all times needed to make my very own story, write my title within the historical past of Brazilian soccer and the nationwide crew. And at the moment I did that.”
Brazil girls‘s ahead Marta holds the nation’s all-time report with 115 targets in 171 video games.
Neymar’s record-breaking aim got here after a low cross into the penalty field, which the striker completed with accuracy from shut vary. He celebrated with a punch within the air, as Pele normally did.
Earlier within the match, Neymar missed a penalty within the seventeenth minute, which goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra saved.
Pelé’s Basis acknowledged Neymar’s achievement.
“Congratulations, Neymar Jr, for surpassing the King in targets for the Brazilian Nationwide Workforce in official FIFA matches,” it mentioned on social media. “Absolutely Pelé is applauding you at the moment!”
Pelé died from most cancers Dec. 29 in Sao Paulo on the age of 82.
Striker Rodrygo, who additionally scored two targets in opposition to Bolivia, mentioned he is nonetheless very a lot a Neymar fan.
“Neymar could be very a lot a hero of mine,” Rodrygo mentioned. “This will probably be in my reminiscence, this was a really special occasion.”
New Brazil coach Fernando Diniz mentioned Neymar got here to play for Brazil “to attain targets, break information, present that he’s very a lot keen to stay this [with the national team.]”
“He is a good hero,” Diniz mentioned. “Individuals have to acknowledge it and settle for it. He would not do something to get this adoration he will get from the group, it’s due to the pure expertise he has.”
Neymar’s most up-to-date match for Brazil earlier than the victory over Bolivia was the World Cup quarterfinal loss to Croatia. He left Qatar with doubts about his future within the nationwide crew and didn’t play the Selecao’s first three video games this yr.
The previous Santos, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star scored in his Brazil debut in a 2010 pleasant in opposition to the United States.
Neymar guided Brazil to the Confederations Cup title in 2013 however has but to make them a World Cup closing, reaching quarterfinals twice — 2018 and 2022 — and the semifinal in 2014, after they suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany on dwelling soil.
He missed out on Brazil’s 2019 Copa America triumph by way of damage and was on the shedding facet in 2021’s closing in opposition to Argentina.
The 31-year-old has loved a glittering membership profession with honours, together with two LaLiga titles, a Champions League trophy, 5 Ligue 1 titles and a Copa Libertadores.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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