Amid elimination, Neymar reaches Pelé's mark in World Cups

Neymar made Brazilian football history by equaling Pelé as the only players in the country to score goals in four different World Cups.

The feat, achieved this Friday (05), occurred in the elimination of the Brazilian team to Norway, with a 2-1 defeat in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

The goal of honor, scored from the penalty spot, was the Brazilian team's only goal in the match and, despite the result, guaranteed Neymar a prominent place alongside the King of Football.

Neymar in World Cups
The historic milestone crowns the number 10's trajectory in World Cups, which began in 2014 and was marked by injuries and decisive moments on the field.

Neymar played in his first World Cup in 2014, hosted in Brazil. On that occasion, he found the back of the net four times before suffering a serious injury in the quarterfinals duel against Colombia.

In 2018, in Russia, the star arrived at the tournament after recovering from a broken foot. Despite not being in full physical condition, he managed to score two goals for Brazil.

Neymar in Brazil's 2018 World Cup defeat against Belgium - Photo: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
In Qatar, in 2022, Neymar again faced a muscle injury in the first phase, but still found the net twice.

Now, in 2026, even with just a few minutes on the field and considered his "worst" World Cup in terms of participation, he scored Brazil's final goal in the competition, reaching the record.

Pelé's Legacy in World Cups
The King of Football, Pelé, had a decisive participation in 1958, scoring six goals, all in the knockout stages. His performance was crucial to Brazil's first world title.

In 1962, in Chile, Pelé was injured in the first phase of the World Cup, but still found the back of the net once, contributing to his second championship.

In the 1966 World Cup, in England, the King of Football also scored a goal, however, he again faced problems with injuries that limited his participation.

Considered by many to be the greatest World Cup, the 1970 edition in Mexico saw Pelé act as conductor of what is considered the greatest team in the history of football.

In that World Cup, the King scored four goals, being a key player in Brazil winning their third title.

This text was generated by artificial intelligence based on content produced by Itatiaia. All information is investigated and checked by journalists. The final text is also reviewed by the CNN Brasil journalism team.

Source: CNN