Neymar follows in the footsteps of Pele and Ronaldo in the World Cup
Neymar attended the World Cup for the first time at the age of 22 in 2014, after his first season at Barca. He scored four goals in the World Cup at home, with a brace against Croatia and Cameroon. To the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Neymar scored two more goals. This period, he did not score in the opening match against Serbia, then missed the remaining two matches in the group stage due to injury.
By the eighth round of this year, Neymar scored a penalty to make it 2-0 against Japan in the 13th minute. Brazil's record still belongs to Pele, when he scored in four consecutive periods from 1958- 1970, a total of 12 goals in 14 games. Ronaldo also attended four World Cups but only scored in three times 1998, 2002 and 2006, with 15 goals in 19 matches.
"It's amazing to achieve this with the idols. So far I have achieved things that I never dreamed of. I am very happy," Neymar said of becoming the third Brazilian male player. scored at three World Cups, behind Pele and Ronaldo Nazario.
In yesterday's match, besides scoring, Neymar also assisted Vinicius to open the scoring. Therefore, he was voted by the fans as "The best player of the match".
After the match, Neymar also posted on Twitter a picture of him raising his head to the sky and shouting, with the comment: "I scream with relief, scream because I did it. Thank God, this glory I dedicate it to for Him".
Neymar also improved his record of scoring 76 goals for Brazil, after 123 games. He is just one short of the all-time Brazilian goalscoring record, which is owned by Pele. The 82-year-old former striker scored 77 goals in 92 matches for the national team between 1957-1971.
After the victory over Japan, Neymar also brought a banner with Pele's name and image on the field. The player who is considered the "King of football" is being treated for colon cancer.
Brazil has reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the eighth time in a row and they will meet 2018 runner-up Croatia, at Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan city on December 9.
