Brazil Top 10 Goal Scorers of All Time: Will Neymar Pass Pele On All-Time Scoring List?
Brazil is one of the most accomplished soccer countries of all-time. The large South American nation has won the most FIFA World Cup championships ever with five. Their last victory in the big game came in 2002 when they defeated Germany.
With so many championships at the global level, and eight Copa America titles at the continental level, Brazil must have benefited from elite players.
Brazilian soccer fans have been blessed with some of the greatest players to ever play the game from the Pele era, to Ronaldo's greatness, to the new Neymar period.
Pele is the all-time leading scorer in Brazilian history with 77 goals. He will forever be remembered for delivering three World Cups to Brazil. He is widely regarded (around the world) as the greatest player of all-time, even though he didn't win the Copa America. Pele lost his only Copa America in 1959 to Argentina.
Ronaldo has the second-most goals in Brazil history with 62. That's a pretty big gap from Pele, but Ronaldo retired as the most accomplished player ever. He retired as the all-time leading World Cup scorer with 15 goals, he won the world Cup and the Copa America and was a clutch performer scoring numerous times in the championship game.
Which brings us to Neymar. Neymar is just 23 years old, but he already has an incredible 44 goals. Neymar has yet to lead Brazil to a big championship, but he has time on his side. He and Lionel Messi have won multiple championships in La Liga with Barcelona, but many believe Neymar can pass Pele on the all-time scoring list.
You won't find his name listed below because he only scored 30 career international goals, but Zizinho has the most goals by a Brazilian in Copa America history with 17. That's also the most goals in Copa America history by any player.
In case you were wondering, Cafu is the most capped player in Brazil history, with 142 games played.
The Top 10 goal scorers in Brazil history:
1. Pele: 77 goals in 92 games
Friendlies: 34
World Cup Qualifiers: 6
World Cup: 12
Copa America: 8
Other Tournaments: 17
2. Ronaldo: 62 goals in 98 games
Friendlies: 21
Copa America: 10
Confederations Cup: 4
World Cup: 15
World Cup Qualifiers: 10
Other Tournaments: 2
3. Romario: 55 goals in 70 games
Friendlies: 17
World Cup: 5
World Cup Qualifiers: 11
Copa America: 7
Other Tournaments: 14
4. Zico: 48 goals in 71 games
Friendlies: 25
World Cup: 5
World Cup Qualifiers: 11
Copa America: 2
Other Tournaments: 5
5. Neymar: 46 goals in 67 games (updated Sep. 9 after goal against USA)
Friendlies: 33
World Cup: 4
Confederations Cup: 4
Copa América: 3
Other Tournaments: 2
6. Bebeto: 39 goals in 75 games
Friendlies: 16
World Cup Qualifiers: 8
World Cup: 6
Copa América: 6
Others Tournaments: 3
7. Rivaldo: 35 goals in 74 games
Friendlies: 13
World Cup Qualifier: 9
World Cup: 8
Copa América: 5
8. Jairzinho: 33 goals in 81 games
Friendlies: 17
World Cup Qualifiers: 3
World Cup: 9
Other Tournaments: 4
9. Ronaldinho: 33 goals in 97 games
Friendlies: 15
World Cup Qualifiers: 5
World Cup: 2
Confederations Cup: 9
Copa America: 1
Other Tournaments: 1
10. Ademir: 32 goals in 39 games
World Cup: 9
Copa América: 12
Copa Río Branco: 6
Copa Roca: 3
Torneo Panamericano: 2
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