Emotional Neymar scored his 68th goal for Brazil in their 4-0 win over Peru on Thursday in the Copa America, bringing it close to the record set by legend Pele.
He reduced the difference to nine after his team managed to win in Rio.
Official statistics released by FIFA, the international governing body for football, put Pele in first place for Brazil with 77 goals. Neymar has 68 after scoring the second Selecao goal against Peru.
Neymar celebrates scoring a goal in Brazil’s 4-0 win over Peru in the Copa America
The striker scored the second goal for Brazil at the top of their group
“It’s clear to me that it’s a great honor, to be a part of the history of Brazil,” Neymar said in tears in an interview filled with loud tones and long pauses after Brazil’s victory at Nelton Santos in Rio.
To be very honest, it was my dream to play for Brazil and to wear this shirt. I never imagined I would reach these numbers.
“It’s very touching for me because I’ve been through a lot of things in the past two years, difficult and complicated things. These numbers are nothing compared to the happiness I have for Brazil.”
The striker scored in the 68th minute in what proved to be a comfortable victory
After the match, Neymar was emotionally left behind as he approached Pele’s record of 77 goals
Neymar sustained several injuries and lost the Champions League final with Paris Saint-Germain in 2020 and had to deal with allegations of sexual assault that were later proven false.
Pele, who has followed Neymar’s career since his debut in Santos, posted a photo of the two of them on Instagram.
I, like all Brazilians, always feel happy when I see him play ball. Today he took another step towards my goalscoring record with the Seleção. “And I encourage him to get there, with the same joy I’ve had since I saw him play for the first time,” said the 80-year-old Pele.
Brazil coach Tite doesn’t want to deal with superstars, but says 29-year-old Neymar is exceptional.
On Instagram, Pele posted a picture of himself and Neymar during the latter’s time with Santos early in his career to show support for the striker, who is hoping to break his own record.
‘He’s got something really personal, he’s developed his skills to help, right foot, left foot. Tite said after the 3-0 win over Venezuela last Sunday.
Tite is working on a system to give Neymar closer space and more protection.
“This is where opponents are afraid to put pressure on him so hard, they might make a mistake in an important place,” Tite said. “We built our team so that it could… (to be) more efficient at creating.”
According to FIFA standards, Pele set his record after 92 matches, while Neymar played 107 matches.
The Brazilian Football Confederation’s official scoring record – which includes some non-international matches against clubs and differs from FIFA statistics – places Neymar 28 goals behind the man Brazilians call the king of football.
Alex Sandro opened the scoring in the first half for Brazil, who only led 1-0 in the first half
Brazil changed half of its starting lineup to face Peru on Thursday in its second Copa America match.
It was Selecao’s ninth win in a row, and yet another show that the tournament hosts are the favorites to defend their title in South America.
Defender Alex Sandro and Neymar, midfielder Everton Ribeiro and striker Richarlison scored the goals at Nilton Santos Stadium.
The result puts Brazil at the top of Group B standings with six points. Colombia is two points behind after its 0-0 draw with Venezuela.
As coach Tite promised, Brazil is using the Copa America to prepare for next year’s World Cup in Qatar. Six players who missed the 3-0 win over Venezuela were in the starting line-up against Peru.
After Neymar’s goal in the 68th minute, Everton Ribeiro added the third goal with one minute to play
Goalkeeper Alisson, defenders Marquinhos and Renan Lodi, midfielders Casemiro and Lucas Paqueta, as well as striker Richarlison, were left out of the starting lineup. In their places, Ederson, Thiago Silva, Alex Sandro, Fabinho, Everton and Gabriel Barbosa started.
Brazil opened the scoring in the 12th minute after Gabriel Jesus crossed and Sandro hit the net from close range. But the new players did not adapt as the coach expected.
“The first half was not what we expected,” Tite said. Everton Ribeiro and Richarlison intervened, and the Brazilian team looked more confident in the second half.
In the 68th minute, Neymar received the ball on the edge of the Peruvian penalty area and beat goalkeeper Pedro Galese with a low shot.
Then Richarlison (right) scored the fourth goal to leave Brazil top of their group at the Copa America
Peru built up the pressure, but Brazil went further in the 89th minute when Ribeiro scored from close range, his first for the national team. Richarlison, who continued in the first half, scored the last goal of the match in overtime after Galeese saved two goals.
Tite said his squad took some time to make adjustments that would eventually come naturally.
‘It takes some time. In the second half we used a lot of strikers, but that’s because we thought that was what the match required.
Asked if South American teams present Brazil with a tough enough challenge, Tite said continental competition has been good, but he also wants to play with European teams.
“We want Spain and Portugal and we want all those experiences,” he said. “But the calendar doesn’t help.”
