Neymar Jr. tied Pelé’s record for the most goals scored for Brazil’s national team on Friday during his side’s 4-2 defeat on penalties vs. Croatia. Neymar’s go-ahead goal in the 106th minute was a classic display of his silky footwork and his 77th for Brazil.
Croatia’s goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic put in a nearly flawless shift denying and frustrating the Brazilians all game. It was going to take something truly special to put the ball in Croatia’s net, and Neymar was just the man to do it.
Neymar Ties Pelé Record Of Goals Scored For Brazil
NEYMAR IN THE 106TH MINUTE
BRAZIL TAKES THE LEAD pic.twitter.com/HxQt9ZYpkJ— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
WHAT A MOMENT
With this goal, Neymar equals Pelé's all-time goal scoring record for Brazil pic.twitter.com/DE8IpsBf5N— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
NEYMAR IN EXTRA TIME WHEN BRAZIL NEED HIM.
HE EQUALS PELÉ AS BRAZIL'S ALL-TIME MEN'S TOP SCORER (77) pic.twitter.com/wZPCKgbdYk— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 9, 2022
NEYMAR LEVELS WITH PELE AS BRAZIL MEN'S LEADING GOALSCORER pic.twitter.com/u5Z04CWGb4
— GOAL (@goal) December 9, 2022
Neymar has now equalled Pele's all-time goal record for Brazil pic.twitter.com/aoR4M9Oa4W
— ESPN (@espn) December 9, 2022
Neymar and Pelé are now the joint top scorers for Brazil all time with 77. When it comes to World Cup goals Neymar has the third-most for Brazil with eight, Pelé is second with 12 and Ronaldo is first with 15.
The Brazilian euphoria after Neymar's goal would only last 11 minutes until Bruno Petkovic shocked the tournament favorites with a late equalizer.
CROATIA TIES IT IN THE 117TH MINUTE
WHAT. A. GAME. pic.twitter.com/s1mI0WByiX— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
Croatia got Brazil right where they wanted them: penalty kicks. The Croatians are some of the best penalty takers in the tournament and were clinical scoring all four of their kicks.
Livakovic put the pressure on Brazil immediately after saving Rodrygo’s tame penalty.
SAVED BY LIVAKOVIC
Croatia: ✅
Brazil: ❌ pic.twitter.com/h9CHpchpTD— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
In the end it came down to Marquinhos hitting the post on the final penalty. Brazilian heartbreak.
OFF THE POST
CROATIA WINS IT pic.twitter.com/N6BsJVP2PI— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
Neymar couldn't hold back tears after that heartbreaking loss pic.twitter.com/TW3qq61CBE
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2022
Croatia advances to the semifinals for the second World Cup in a row. The winner of Argentina vs. Netherlands will play Croatia on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. ET.
