Neymar has achieved the remarkable feat of becoming Brazil's all-time leading male goal-scorer, surpassing the legendary Pele, as he netted two goals during a commanding 5-1 victory over Bolivia in a World Cup qualifying match, BBC reports.
Entering the game with 77 goals, the 31-year-old forward initially missed a penalty before making a comeback with a brace in the second half, marking his 125th appearance for the national team.
Reflecting on this monumental achievement, Neymar humbly remarked, "I never imagined reaching this record. I'm no better than Pele or any other player for the national team."
In contrast, Marta, another Brazilian football icon, holds the record for the most goals in Brazil's women's team, with 122 goals in 189 matches.
Pele, the legendary Brazilian footballer who passed away in December at the age of 82, previously held the record with 77 goals in 92 appearances between 1957 and 1971. Pele is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in the history of the sport.
Acknowledging Neymar's incredible accomplishment, Pele's official social media account posted, "Congratulations Neymar for surpassing the King in goals for Brazil. Surely Pele is applauding you today!"
Brazil's head coach, Fernando Diniz, expressed his satisfaction with Neymar's performance, stating, "He came to do what he did: have fun, score two goals, and break the record."
Neymar, who became the world's most expensive player when he transferred from Barcelona to Paris St-Germain for £200mn in 2017, recently departed the French side to join the Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal.
Coach Diniz emphasized Neymar's significance as an idol and urged people to recognize and appreciate his contributions to Brazilian football.
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