Neymar 0.63, Pelé 0.84, Puskás 0.99, CR7 0.62, Messi 0.59 – 09/10/2023 – The World Is a Ball

In Brazil’s first match in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, a 5-1 thrashing of Bolivia in Belém, Neymar scored two goals and became, according to FIFA data (which only considers official matches), the main top scorer of the Brazilian national team.

Neymar, 31, who has played for the main team since 2010, showed that he still maintains a leading role in the team, especially since Vinicius Junior was unable to play due to an injury.

Upon scoring his 78th goal, the first against the Bolivians, the former Santos, Barcelona and PSG player celebrated by punching the air, in honor of Pelé, who has scored 77 goals for Brazil according to FIFA criteria.

Thus, in absolute number of goals, Neymar left Pelé, who died at the end of 2022, behind. On average, however, the King of Football remains far ahead: 0.84 x 0.63.

It is precisely the average number of goals per game that must be taken into account when comparing top scorers.

This is the most appropriate criterion, since the more times an athlete plays, the more chance he has of finding the net. Neymar played 125 times for Brazil’s senior team; Pelé, 92, or 26% less than the current number 10 of Al Hilal, from Saudi Arabia.

In relation to the other top scorers for national teams, shown in a Wikipedia list that uses data from RSSSF (an organization that gathers football statistical data) and other sources, Neymar is close to the two most famous footballers of this century.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s average for Portugal is 0.62 goals per game – he scored 123 in 201 matches, being the overall record holder in absolute numbers.

Messi has scored 104 goals (the most recent three days ago) in 176 appearances for Argentina, with an average of 0.59, and is third in total goals.

Between the Portuguese and the Argentine, with 108 goals in 148 matches, is Ali Daei, who defended Iran from 1993 to 2006.

On average, among the greats in the history of football, the leader, with 0.99 goals per game, is the legendary Ferec Puskás (1927-2006), with an impressive 84 goals in 85 appearances for Hungary, from 1945 to 1956.

Better than him, considering the top scorers from each FIFA-affiliated country (there are more than 200), only Nando Có, from Guinea-Bissau, with 9 goals in 6 games (average of 1.5), Poul Nielsen (1891- 1962), from Denmark, 52 goals in 38 games (average of 1.37), and Richard O’Connor, from Anguiilla: 5 goals in 5 games (1 average).

With an average identical to that of Puskás (0.99) is the Japanese Kunishige Kamamoto: 75 goals in 76 games.

Next, the top scorers for national teams who, in terms of goal average, rank above Pelé – there are only nine. There is also the total number of goals and matches and the period in which the player played for his country’s adult team.

• Nando Có (Guinea-Bissau): 1.5 (9 goals, 6 games, 1996-2001)
• Poul Nielsen (Denmark): 1.37 (52 goals, 38 games, 1910-1925)
• Richard O’Connor (Anguilla): 1 (5 goals, 5 games, 2000-2006)
• Ferenc Puskás (Hungary): 0.99 (84 goals, 85 games, 1945-1956)
• Kunishige Kamamoto (Japan): 0.99 (75 goals, 76 games, 1964-1977)
• Commins Menapi (Solomon Islands): 0.94 (34 goals, 36 games, 2000-2007)
• Ali Al-Bisky (Libya): 0.91 (40 goals, 44 games, 1961-1970)
• Shaun Goater (Bermuda): 0.91 (20 goals, 22 games, 1988-2004)
• Earl Jean (St. Lucia): 0.87 (20 goals, 23 games, 1990-2004)
• Pelé (Brazil): 0.84 (77 goals, 92 games, 1957-1971)

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