NEW DELHI: The extra-time goal against Croatia in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals saw Neymar equal football legend Pele's record as Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 77 goals on Friday.
The 30-year-old Neymar scored his 77 goals in 124 appearances for Brazil while Pele's goals came in 92 matches with the national team between 1957 and 1971.
Neymar, who started the tournament two goals shy of the milestone, scored with a right-footed shot after getting through the defense and dribbling past the Croatia goalkeeper to match Pele's record.
Neymar scored his 76th goal in the last-16 clash against South Korea after returning from an ankle injury.
The 82-year-old football icon, who is hospitalised 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.
Ronaldo, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002, is third on the list with 62 goals in 98 matches.
Neymar, who first played for Brazil as an 18-year-old in 2010, is playing in his third World Cup and is the only other Brazil player other than Pele and Ronaldo to score in three different World Cups.
(With inputs from Agencies)
