Neymar broke Brazil’s all-time record for goals scored with a pair of goals in the second half of his team’s easy win over Bolivia.
Since he hadn’t played for Brazil in six months, the 31-year-old wasn’t sure if he would start. Last month, Neymar switched to the Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal, but he hasn’t been healthy enough to play yet.
But Brazil’s caretaker coach Fernando Diniz chose to start Neymar in his first game in charge, and he was repaid with a great game and two goals that were taken with confidence. Midway through the second half, he scored his team’s 78th goal, breaking a record. He put the ball in from the penalty spot to make it 4-0 for his team.
Neymar and everyone else in Estadio Olimpico do Para went crazy when that went in, but there was still more to come. In the last minute of the game, he scored Brazil’s fifth goal of the night from close range. It was his 79th career goal for Brazil.
In the first half, Neymar missed a chance
The 31-year-old finally got his dream finish, but in the first half, there was a moment to forget. Neymar had only been back on the field for 15 minutes when he was given a great chance to make history.
Rodrygo made a strong run through the Bolivian defence and shot the ball across the face of the goal. The defender’s hand got in the way of his cross, and the judge gave Brazil a penalty. Neymar stepped up to take the penalty kick, but his usual stuttering run-up let him down, and Guillermo Viscarra made an easy save to his right.
The crowd, which had been waiting for something big to happen, was quiet for a moment. It didn’t look like Neymar’s return to the field would be the highlight that everyone had hoped for. Brazil and Neymar were both lucky that his miss was masked by a record-setting goal and an excellent win for the team.
