The goal Neymar scored against Bolivia on Friday, which brought him to 78 goals overall, overtook Pele to become Brazil’s all-time leading scorer.
The forward, who was playing in his 125th match for Brazil, had a penalty kick saved in the 17th minute of the South American World Cup qualifier that would have broken the record.
But in the 61st minute of the game in Belem, Neymar comfortably hammered home a right-foot drive after seizing possession of a loose ball in the area.
The former Barcelona striker, now 31 years old, recently switched teams from Paris Saint-Germain to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.
Between 1957 and 1971, Pele, who passed away in December at the age of 82, scored 77 goals in 92 games for Brazil.
