Neymar's Historic Brazil Victory: 5-1 Over Bolivia in 2026 World Cup Opener

 Neymar's Historic Brazil Victory: 5-1 Over Bolivia in 2026 World Cup Opener

Neymar's Historic Brazil Victory: 5-1 Over Bolivia in 2026 World Cup Opener(Image-Getty)

In their 2026 World Cup qualifiers opener, Brazil exceeded expectations with a resounding 5-1 victory over Bolivia, marking a historic moment as Neymar eclipsed the legendary Pele to become Brazil's all-time top scorer. This thrilling match unfolded as follows:

The 31-year-old Neymar, who had recently joined Saudi side Al-Hilal, showcased remarkable resilience after missing a penalty early in the game. He rebounded brilliantly, netting two crucial goals in the 61st and 93rd minutes, thus amassing a total of 79 goals for the national team and surpassing Pele's iconic record.

The achievement didn't go unnoticed, and a heartfelt message was posted on Pele's official social media account on the platform formerly known as Twitter. It read, "Congratulations Neymar for surpassing the King in goals for Brazil. Surely Pele is applauding you today!"

Real Madrid's rising star, Rodrygo, also played a pivotal role in Brazil's victory, scoring twice. He opened the scoring in the 24th minute and added another goal in the 52nd, courtesy of an exquisite through ball from Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes, extending Brazil's lead to 3-0.

Reflecting on the historic occasion, the 22-year-old Rodrygo expressed his admiration for Neymar, stating, "It really is a very special day... Neymar is my idol, being able to help him become the top scorer will stay with me forever."

Brazil's dominance continued as Raphinha, who stepped in for Antony in the squad, swiftly found the net at the opening seconds of the second half, making it 2-0. His goal came from a precise shot at the far post, capitalizing on a well-placed pass from Neymar on the edge of the box.

Bolivia managed to salvage a consolation goal, with Victor Abrego unleashing a powerful shot in the 78th minute, but it was not enough to dampen Brazil's triumphant performance.

Looking ahead, Brazil is set to maintain its winning streak as they prepare to face Peru in the second round of CONMEBOL qualifiers on Tuesday.

In other qualifying action, Uruguay kicked off their campaign impressively, securing a 3-1 victory over Chile on home turf. This victory marked a significant milestone for former Leeds United coach Marcelo Bielsa, who claimed his first official win at the helm of the Uruguayan national team.