Neymar became the top goal scorer for Brazil's national team after surpassing the total of three-time World Cup winner Pelé on Friday. The goal that put the 31-year-old Neymar on the top of Brazil's scoring record with 78 came in the 61st minute in a World Cup qualifying match against Bolivia in the Amazon city of Belém. It was Brazil's fourth goal of the match in a 5-1 win, with the last goal of the game also being scored by Neymar during injury time. Read : Neymar completes Saudi move to Al Hilal after 6 seasons with Paris Saint-Germain Neymar's record-breaking goal came after a low cross into the penalty box, which the striker finished with accuracy from close range. He celebrated with a punch in the air, as Pelé usually did. Earlier, the Al-Hilal striker missed a penalty in the 17th minute, which goalkeeper Billy Viscarra saved. Neymar's second goal in the match came in similar fashion near the final whistle, with another low cross by Raphinha. Brazil's soccer confederation considers Pelé as its top goal scorer with 95 goals in 114 matches. FIFA does not count goals the three-time World Cup winner had at national team friendlies against clubs. Read : Neymar’s publicity representative Robin Miah meets Brazilian envoy in Dhaka "78 times Neymar," the Brazilian soccer body said on social media after Neymar's record-breaking goal. "Neymar scores the fifth for the Selecao," it said after the striker's second goal against Bolivia. Pelé'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 Pelé is applauding you today!" Pelé died from cancer on Dec. 29 in Sao Paulo at the age of 82. Striker Rodrygo, who also scored two goals against Bolivia, said he's still very much a Neymar fan. "Neymar is very much a hero of mine," Rodrygo said. "This will be in my memory, this was a very special day." Read : Messi scores from a free kick to give Argentina 1-0 win in South American World Cup qualifying Neymar's most-recent match for Brazil before the victory over Bolivia was the World Cup quarterfinal loss last year to Croatia. He left Qatar with doubts about his future in the national team and did not play the Selecao's first three games this year. 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 recognize 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."

Brazil forward Neymar sent his best wishes to football legend Pele on Monday after the South American team advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals with a 4-1 win over South Korea. Pele, who won the World Cup three times for Brazil, is currently in hospital as he recovers from a respiratory infection and continues treatment for colon cancer. Read: Image of Pelé shines bright for Brazilian fans at World Cup Brazil's players posed for a photograph holding a banner with the 82-year-old's image and name after the final whistle at Stadium 974. "It's tough to talk about Pele with what he is going through," Neymar told reporters. "We wish he can get well soon. We hope we made him feel a bit more comfortable with the banner and with the victory." Neymar's first-half penalty means the 30-year-old now has 76 international goals, one shy of Pele's Brazil scoring record. The Paris Saint-Germain player said he felt no ill effects of an ankle problem that forced him to miss Brazil's previous two matches against Switzerland and Cameroon. Read: Pelé’s family: COVID caused infection, death not imminent "I didn't feel any pain in my ankle," he said. "I want to thank the medical staff and the physiotherapists for helping me to be fit for this match. "I think I played well. I'm very happy with how the night went but, having said that, I think we can always improve. I can't be 100% satisfied, we can always get better." He added: "We wanted to win the match to reach the next round and that's what happened. The fans celebrated wonderfully inside the stadium and we have to congratulate them."

The Brazilian team taking part in Qatar has been called the best team to take part in the tournament since the legend-filled triumphant side of 2002. A hugely important figure in the current Selecao team is Neymar. No wonder that his knee injury in Brazil's 2-0 win against Serbia in their opening game of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has caused worldwide concern amongst the fanbase. With Neymar expected to be out for the remaining group stage games, his presence could prove vital to Tite's side. Will Brazil continue to shine without Neymar? Read More: Spain vs Germany FIFA World Cup 2022 LIVE Streaming: Where and how to watch online and on TV Channel, predicted XI A Big Miss? Brazil are the most successful team when it comes to the FIFA World Cup. The South American nation also hold the record for taking part in all 22 editions of the tournament. For the Qatar 2022 tournament, Neymar Jr. is a very important player for the Selecao. The PSG attacker is Brazil's second-top scorer with 75 goals in 122 games for the Selecao, only behind Pele, who has 77 goals. In qualifying, the Brazilian scored eight goals, which was the most for his country and two more than second-placed Richarlison. With 55 assists to his name, the Santos youth product is an elite playmaker who can also score goals. Although some criticism has been drawn up against him for his commitment to football at club level, he has been exceptional when he has been on the pitch for Paris Saint-Germain. In the past year, he has been in the top 1% for xA, non-penalty xG+xA, shot-creating actions, passes attempted among forwards, and progressive passes. With 11 goals and 9 assists in 1080 league minutes, he has been in red-hot form for his club. He's been doing it for PSG in the UCL as well, scoring two and assisting two in five UCL games. Without a doubt, he is one of the best players on the planet right now. Thus, now that his undeniable importance has been established, how much will Brazil miss him? Is there someone who can replace him in that squad? Read More: Iran shuts out noise at World Cup but United States looms The Solution As already seen in the game against Serbia, where the European team largely managed to silence Neymar, Brazil is not entirely dependent on the PSG forward to get them out of sticky situations.It is no longer the case where Brazil depends on moments of magic from their talisman in order to defeat mid-level or top-level opponents. With an attack that boasts the likes of Vinicius Junior, Richarlison, Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli, Rodrygo, Antony, and Gabriel Jesus, Brazil are well stocked in the attacking department even in the absence of Neymar. Neymar has predominantly been seen being deployed in the hole behind the frontline, a position that could be occupied by Lucas Paqueta and Gabriel Jesus to a highly successful degree. In the match, Brazil played a midfield trio of Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta, and Neymar. This midfield struggled to recycle the ball and lacked balance in the first half. The introduction of Bruno Guimaraes changed the outcome of the match, bringing balance to the heart of Brazil. Thus, in the wake of Neymar's injury, Tite could explore playing a more balanced midfield, which will allow his forwards to play with more freedom and lessen the pressure that is usually put on the backline. But if he wants a like-for-like replacement for the Sao Paulo-born superstar, then Gabriel Jesus and Lucas Paqueta can easily step up in his position to fill his void to some extent. Read More: Australia's emotions run high after rare World Cup win Verdict Similar to Messi and Ronaldo, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 could be Neymar's final World Cup appearance. We saw in 2014 what he was capable of when he's on form, at his peak. His injury in that World Cup was a huge setback for the host countries, who were humiliated in the semifinals by eventual winners Germany. Neymar is unarguably the most key element in his Brazilian attack. However, if he is the best rice in the world, his teammates will add flavour and color. Brazil have already demonstrated that their Samba magic is in full flow, and it will continue in the remainder of the group stage despite the absence of their star player Neymar.

Football nowadays offers more money thanks to its enormous appeal to top-level professional players in all parts of the world. According to the most recent Forbes list of the highest-paid football players for 2022, one may get an idea of how much a top football player can make. As per the US magazine, the French forward, Kylian Mbappe, has reached the 100 million marks in earnings at only 23 years old. Who made the top 10 in the 2022 Forbes highest-paid football players list? Based on salaries, bonuses, and off-field earnings, which include cash from endorsements, licensing, appearances, memorabilia, and businesses operated by the players, were taken into account when Forbes made the list for the highest earners for the 2022-2023 season. PSG’s three superstar footballers, Mbappe, Messi, and Neymar, made the list. Manchester City’s two top earners, Haaland and De Bruyne, also found a place in the top 10 list. Here are the top 10 Forbes highest-paid soccer players 2022. Read: Cristiano Ronaldo: Portuguese star completes 700 club goals 10. Kevin De Bruyne Nationality: Belgium | Age: 31 | Current Club: Manchester City | Total Earnings: $29 millions Apart from being one of the top earners at Manchester City football club in England, Kevin De Bruyne has 11 brand deals. He has $4 million in off-field earnings through his image. 09. Andres Iniesta Nationality: Spain | Age: 38 | Current Club: Vissel Kobe | Total Earnings: $30 millions Iniesta left Barcelona in 2018 and has since made a fortune playing for the Japanese club Vissel Kobe. He has $25 million in on-field earnings. 08. Eden Hazard Nationality: Belgium | Age: 31 | Current Club: Real Madrid | Total Earnings: $31 millions Hazard has failed to make an impact for Real Madrid because of injury issues. However, that doesn’t affect his overall earnings. Hazard has $27 million in on-field earnings with Los Blancos. 07. Robert Lewandowski Nationality: Poland | Age: 34 | Current Club: FC Barcelona | Total Earnings: $35 millions Barcelona’s summer signings Lewandowski has found himself at No.7 with a total of $35 million in earnings. Lewandowski’s $8 million in off-field earnings proves that he has a massive fan following.  06. Erling Haaland Nationality: Norway | Age: 22 | Current Club: Manchester City | Total Earnings: $39 millions Manchester City’s goal machine, Erling Haaland, has deservedly earned a place in the top 10 list of highest-paid earners. Man City has given Erling $35 million for his footballing services. Read: Will Argentina’s 36-year trophy drought end with Messi's final World Cup? 05. Mohamed Salah Nationality: Egypt | Age: 30 | Current Club: Liverpool | Total Earnings: $53 millions Mohamed Salah recently signed a new contract with Liverpool and that has made him among the top earners in football. Salah’s overall earnings exceeded $50 million. 04. Neymar Jr. Nationality: Brazil | Age: 30 | Current Club: PSG | Total Earnings: $87 millions Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr. couldn’t reach the 100 million mark but still pocketed $87 million. He has earned $55 million for his on-field service to PSG. 03. Cristiano Ronaldo Nationality: Portugal | Age: 37 | Current Club: Manchester United | Total Earnings: $100 millions The 37-year-old Portuguese star, Cristiano Ronaldo, recently completed his 700 club goals and is still going strong. Ronaldo’s off-field earnings of $60 million have surpassed his earnings with Manchester United. 02. Lionel Messi Nationality: Argentina | Age: 35 | Current Club: PSG | Total Earnings: $120 millions Lionel Andres Messi, the Argentine superstar, has a total income of $120 million. Paris Saint-Germain has given $65 million for his magical footballing services on the field. 01. Kylian Mbappe Nationality: France | Age: 23 | Current Club: PSG | Total Earnings: $128 millions Paris Saint-Germain managed to sign Kylian Mbappe to a new contract last summer and make him the highest-paid footballer in the world. The French giant has given him more than $100 million for his service as a player. Read: Qatar World Cup 2022: Viewer's guide Aftermath Each year, the renowned American business magazine, Forbes, compiles the list of the highest earners among football players. The highlights of the Forbes Highest-Paid footballers 2022 were Erling Haaland's debut and Kylian Mbappe's position at the top.

Brazil gave their close rivals a hint on Tuesday (September 27) of what is coming from them in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 by hitting five goals into Tunisia’s net. They were dominant in possession and terrorized Tunisia’s defense all through the match at the Parc des Princes. Brazil vs Tunisia: Match Report Do you recall how the Brazilian players were depleted during the chanting of the national anthem before their 2014 World Cup semifinal match against Germany because they were without Neymar? They had concerns about their ability without Neymar Jr., and those concerns came true when they were defeated 7-1 by Germany in front of their own fans. Read: Neymar Jr. on the verge of breaking Pele's goalscoring record Brazil has failed to live up to fans' expectations in recent years. Their only major success in the last decade was winning the 2019 Copa America. But things have changed now as the Selecao men’s national side has plenty of options up front who can destroy any opposition on a given day.

It’s been more than fifty years since ‘The Black Pearl’ Pele has held the scoring record for Brazil's national football team with 77 goals. Many prolific scorers have retired over the last fifty years, but none of them managed to get even close to Pele’s record. But the Selecao’s present sensation, Neymar Jr., is getting inching closer to breaking the record. He is only 3 goals shy of equaling Pele’s record of most international goals for the Brazil national football team. Top 10 goal scorers for Brazil's national football team Pele, a three-time World Cup winner and arguably the first global football superstar, has held the record for most goals scored for Brazil for nearly six decades. He has 77 goals in 92 international caps for Brazil's senior side, with a sensational 0.84 average. Therefore, breaking Pele’s record will surely be a great achievement for Neymar Jr., who is only four goals away from setting a new record. Neymar has scored 74 goals in 120 international matches for Brazil's national side since making his debut in the year 2010. Neymar's 0.61 goal average is not as high as Pele's, but it is still remarkable when compared to the stats of current players. Read: Army announces Tk 1 crore reward for SAFF women champions Three of the greatest Brazilian footballers, Ronaldo, Romario, and Zico, are in the third, fourth, and fifth spots, with 62, 56, and 48 goals, respectively. Here are the top ten goal scorers for Brazil's national football team. Top 10 goal scorers for Brazil's national football team Player Caps Goals Average Pele 92 77 0.84 Neymar Jr 120 74 0.61 Ronaldo 98 62 0.63 Romario 70 56 0.79 Zico 71 48 0.68 Bebeto 75 39 0.52 Rivaldo 74 35 0.47 Jairzinho 81 33 0.41 Ronaldinho 97 33 0.34 Ademir 39 32 0.82 Tostao 54 32 0.59  Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil_national_football_team#Top_goalscorers Brazil's national team’s upcoming international fixtures The Brazil national football team will play at least one more friendly match prior to the Qatar World Cup 2022. The Selecao will play Tunisia in a scheduled international friendly on Wednesday (September 28). If Neymar Jr. scores a hat trick against Tunisia, he will shatter the record. If not, he will get a chance to break Pele's record at the forthcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup group stage. Read: 14 important international football fixtures to watch before FIFA World Cup 2022 Brazil’s Group Phase fixture of the World Cup 2022 Date: November 25 | Match: Brazil vs Serbia | Time: 1 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time) Date: November 28 | Match: Brazil vs Switzerland | Time: 10 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time) Date: December 3 | Match: Cameron vs Brazil | Time: 1 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time)   Bottom Line Records are made to be broken, and Neymar Jr. is moving closer to breaking Pele's record for the most goals scored for Brazil. The current Brazilian superstar is in excellent shape and might break the record during the FIFA World Cup this year. Read: Will be “honoured” to play for Bangladesh football team: Hamza Choudhury

Controversies have never left Neymar behind ever since his arrival in Europe. The Brazilian star footballer has always made the headlines, but most of the time for a negative reason since his transfer from Brazilian club Santos to Spanish giant FC Barcelona back in 2013. One of the most talked-about controversies surrounding Neymar is his defrauding of DIS, a company that owned 40% of the rights to the footballer at the time of his transfer to the Catalan club. The investigation regarding Neymar’s transfer to Barcelona started in January 2014. After more than eight years, the final trial is to be staged on October 17 this year, reported El PAIS. What is the reason behind Neymar’s trial at Barcelona's court? Ten years ago, Neymar Jr. was the most sought-after footballer for the European giants. Major European clubs fought hard to acquire Neymar. But it was FC Barcelona who eventually won the race to sign the Brazilian young star in 2013. Neymar did not let Barcelona down. He helped the Catalan giants to win the 2015 Champions League and multiple other domestic and international tournaments by showing his magnificent footballing abilities on the field. Read: Neymar to start in unchanged Brazil team to face Costa Rica Neymar came to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 to escape Argentina's Lionel Messi's shadow after spending four fruitful years at Barcelona. Despite switching the teams, there have always been issues with Barcelona due to a number of legal matters. When Neymar penned a new contract with Barcelona in 2016, it included a sizable incentive. However, the footballer alleged that Barcelona did not offer him the incentive when he transferred to PSG in 2017. The Catalan club was sued by Neymar for failing to pay him 46.3 million euros. The player was counter-sued by Barcelona for contract violations. Later, the situation was resolved when the two sides were able to come to an amicable settlement. However, the biggest saga is Neymar’s signing for Barcelona from Santos in 2013. He is accused of fraud and corruption by the DIS, a Brazilian company that owned 40% of Neymar's rights back then. DIS claimed that Neymar's contract had irregularities. Both Barcelona and the player's entourage had left them feeling cheated. According to the Catalan club, Neymar's transfer cost was 57.1 million euros. Of the 17.1 million euros given to Santos, 6.8 million went to the DIS. The DIS believed they had received far less than they should have as the exact transfer cost was concealed. Read Trophee des Champions 2022: Messi, Neymar likely to start for PSG against Nantes The prosecutor's office is seeking to get a 10-million-euro fine in addition to a two-year jail sentence for Neymar Jr. However, according to several reports, the company wants the player to serve five years in prison and ban him from football for the same time period. The legal battle over Neymar's fraudulent financial transfer to Barcelona has been going on for years, and according to El PAIS, the final trial will be held on October 17 at the Barcelona court. The timing of the trial is quite bizarre, as the 2022 Qatar World Cup will begin in mid-November. Bottom Line Whether Neymar Jr. will be sentenced to jail for defrauding the investment fund DIS will be known in the coming October. Neymar's transfer to Barcelona has already been regarded as one of the most contentious. It would likely be the biggest transfer penalty in football history if the player, his family, and the former president of Barcelona were proven guilty of any wrongdoing relating to the transfer and given jail time and financial penalties. It would also be a huge blow for Brazil if Neymar were to be put on trial just before the World Cup in 2022, something their endless worldwide fans are not expecting. Read: Neymar gets goal, yellow card for diving as Brazil romps 5-0