Neymar is Brazil’s new all-time record goalscorer after scoring a brace against Bolivia on Friday, beating the long-standing record held by the legendary Pele.
Going into the game, Neymar had already levelled the record of Pele’s 77 international goals and could’ve beaten it just 17 minutes into the game, but the 31-year-old missed a penalty.
But he wasn’t to be denied, and just past the hour mark, he scored Brazil’s fourth in the 5-1 win, to grab his 78th goal for his country.
And he wasn’t done, as he also scored the fifth, to take the new record tally to 79 in 125 international games. Pele’s 77 came in 92 caps.
“I am very happy, [there are] no words for this. I never thought I would reach this record,” Neymar said to media after the match, as he was honoured by Brazilian FA president, Ednaldo Rodrigues.