‘I HAVE NO WORDS’: NEYMAR BREAKS PELE’S ALL-TIME RECORD FOR BRAZIL

“I am very happy, no words for this,” Neymar said in brief comments to the media after he was handed a plaque by the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, Ednaldo Rodrigues. “I never thought I would reach this record.”

Brazil’s football confederation considers Pele as its top goal scorer with 95 goals in 114 matches. FIFA does not count goals that Pele scored at national team friendlies against clubs.

“78 times Neymar,” the Brazilian football body said on social media after Neymar’s record-breaking goal.

Rodrigues reiterated Neymar had become “the all-time top goal-scorer for Brazil in matches against national teams”.

Pele’s Foundation, however, acknowledged Neymar’s achievement.

“Congratulations, Neymar Jr, for surpassing the King in goals for the Brazilian National Team in official FIFA matches,” it said on social media. “Surely Pele is applauding you today!”

Pele died from cancer on December 29 in Sao Paulo at the age of 82.

“I want to say that this [the record] doesn’t mean I am better than him [Pele] or than any national team player,” Neymar added in his short statement. “I always wanted to write my story in the national team, and today I did that.”

New Brazil coach Fernando Diniz said Neymar came to play for Brazil “to score goals, break records, show that he is very much willing to live this [the national team]”.

“He is a great hero,” Diniz said. “People have to recognise it and accept it. He doesn’t do anything to get this adoration he gets from the crowd. It is because of the natural talent he has.”