Neymar draws level with Pele as Brazil's all time top goalscorer

Reuters

Updated

Neymar draws level with Pele as Brazil's all time top goalscorerReuters

Neymar (30) scored in extra time for Brazil against Croatia in their World Cup quarter-final on Friday to reach 77 goals and draw level with Pele (82) as the team's top scorer, a record held by the Brazilian great for 51 years.

Pele, who is hospitalized in delicate conditions in Sao Paulo due to cancer, scored his last goal for Brazil in a friendly against Austria in 1971.

Pele is the only player to have won the World Cup three times, in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and scored 77 goals in 92 matches.

Neymar reached 77 goals in his 124th appearance as he was trying to win his first World Cup title and help Brazil reach a record-extending sixth championship, 20 years after they last won the title in 2002.

Despite Neymar scoring a brilliant goal and giving Brazil the lead over Croatia in the 106th minute of the match, Croatia drew level in the 117th minute and then won the match on penalties.

The loss ended Brazil and Neymar's World Cup dream. It remains to be known whether Neymar will aim to compete at another World Cup finals, he had suggested Qatar would be his last.

Mentions

SoccerWorld ChampionshipNeymar da Silva Santos JuniorBrazil