It was all joy for Neymar in the early hours of Saturday as Brazil thrashed Bolivia 5-1 in the first game of their FIFA World 2026 qualifiers. However, it was a double blessing for the Al-Hilal forward, whose brace saw him overtake football icon Pele as his nation’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals.
The 31-year-old former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward was left speechless after surmounting the hurdle that seemed improbable to surpass, with the record having stood unbroken for over half a century.
After his side’s win at the Mangueirao in Belem, Para, Neymar thanked his family and all of his teammates and said he had no words to describe how happy he was at surpassing his idol, Pele.
“Very happy. I have no words,” he said. “I have never imagined reaching this record.
“Today, I did it. To my family – that is far away – and to all my teammates here, I thank you all.”
The Saudi-based football star also sent a message to fans, urging them not to place him above Pele because he surpassed his record, as he had always looked to make his own history.
“And I want to make clear that it’s not because I surpassed Pelé that I am better than him or any other layer of the national team,” Neymar continued.
“I always wanted to make my history, write my name in the history of Brazilian football and in the national team.”
After the match, Neymar was honoured by his teammates and interim coach Fernando Diniz, along with the Brazilian Football Confederation’s president, Ednaldo Rodrigues, who paid tribute to him by handing him a plaque and a jersey with his name and the number 79.
Neymar’s first goal in the 61st minute against Bolivia propelled him to the top of Brazil’s scoring record, as it was his 78th strike for the national team. He added another goal in stoppage time, the 79th international goal of his career, to extend his lead at the summit of the ranking to two.
