BELEM — Brazil lived up to expectations by smashing Bolivia 5-1 at home in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers opener on Friday, with Neymar surpassing the late great Pelé as the country's top scorer.
The 31-year-old Neymar, who recently joined Saudi side Al-Hilal, bounced back after missing a penalty in the first half, scoring two goals in the 61st and 93rd minutes to become the country's all-time top scorer with 79 goals.
Neymar goal vs Bolivia
¡La regaló Neymar!
El brasileño desperdició la oportunidad de convertirse en el máximo goleador histórico de BrasilBrasil 0-0 Bolivia
@NBCUniverso #EliminatoriasSudamericanas #RumboAlMundial #Somos26 pic.twitter.com/MFqKF4Il1y
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) September 9, 2023
¡Histórico Neymar!
El brasileño encontró un rebote y marcó el gol con el que se convierte en el máximo goleador histórico de Brasil con 78 goles en 125 partidos.Brasil 4-0 Bolivia
@NBCUniverso #EliminatoriasSudamericanas #RumboAlMundial #Somos26 pic.twitter.com/Ed56pP36CY
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) September 9, 2023
¡Neymar está de regreso!
El brasileño marca su doblete y ya son 79 goles en 125 partidos.Brasil 5-1 Bolivia
@NBCUniverso #EliminatoriasSudamericanas #RumboAlMundial #Somos26 pic.twitter.com/M9giDcxJFA
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) September 9, 2023
"Congratulations Neymar for surpassing the King in goals for Brazil," the official account of the late Brazil soccer legend Pelé wrote on Twitter. "Surely Pele is applauding you today!"
Para sempre, Meninos da Vila! Parabéns, @neymarjr, por superar o Rei em gols pela Seleção Brasileira em jogos oficiais da FIFA. Com certeza Pelé está te aplaudindo hoje!
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Meninos da Vila, forever! Congratulations, Neymar Jr, for surpassing the King in goals for the Brazilian… pic.twitter.com/iqU3vQ2EGj— Pelé (@Pele) September 9, 2023
Neymar said after the game, "I never imagined reaching this record. I want to say that I am not a better player than Pele. I always wanted to make my own story, write my name in the history of Brazilian football and the national team. And today I did that."
Neymar has played 125 times for Brazil and was part of the team that won the Confederations Cup in 2013.
Real Madrid's Rodrygo also shone with a double, opening the scoring in the 24th minute and bagging his second in the 52nd off a great through ball from Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes for 3-0.
¡Rodrygo no perdona!
El brasileño empujó el rechace de Viscarra y abre el marcador con su tercer gol en 15 partidos con Brasil.Brasil 1-0 Bolivia
@NBCUniverso #EliminatoriasSudamericanas #RumboAlMundial #Somos26 pic.twitter.com/cuX9jqHgtp
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) September 9, 2023
¡Doblete de Rodrygo!
El brasileño define un gran pase de Bruno Guimaraes y vence a Viscarra.Brasil 3-0 Bolivia
@NBCUniverso #EliminatoriasSudamericanas #RumboAlMundial #Somos26 pic.twitter.com/KB3HzEhsfv
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) September 9, 2023
"It really is a very special day... Neymar is my idol, being able to help him become the top scorer will stay with me forever," the 22-year-old Rodrygo told Brazilian broadcaster TV Globo.
Raphinha, who replaced Antony in the Brazilian squad, scored to make it 2-0 in the opening seconds of the second half with a shot at the far post after picking up Neymar's pass in the edge of the box.
Bolivia got their consolation goal through Victor Abrego's powerful shot in the 78th minute.
Brazil will look to continue their good form when they visit Peru on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, Uruguay started their qualifying campaign on the right foot by beating Chile 3-1 at home to hand former Leeds United coach Marcelo Bielsa his first official win at the helm.
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Additional reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Stephen Coates, Michael Perry and William Mallard)
