2022 WC football: Neymar is 2nd highest goal scorer for Brazil replacing Ronaldo

NEYMAR  da Silva Santos Júnior, popularly known as Neymar, has helped his nation  Brazil defeat Peru in a FIFA 2020 world cup qualifier by scoring a hat-trick in Peru’s capital Lima. The 28 years old  Brazilian professional footballer plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil national team. He is widely considered as one of the best players in the world. Neymar becomes the second-highest scorer in Brazil’s history as the Copa America champions won 4-2 away to 10-man Peru in a World Cup qualifier. The hat–trick by Neymar helped Brazil defeat another Latin American nation Peru by 4-2 on Tuesday and placed him behind legendry striker Pele, also Brazilian, on his country’s all-time goal-scoring list. Pele retired from football long ago, had netted 77 goals for Brazil more than Neymar. Ronaldo is third with 62 goals. Peru’s Andre Carrillo put the home side ahead after six minutes with a crisp volley from outside the box but Neymar equalised from the spot in 28 minutes after he was fouled. Peru went ahead again after 59 minutes when Renato Tapia’s 25-meter shot hit Rodrigo Caio before rolling into the net, only for Richarlison to equalise five minutes later. Neymar put Brazil ahead with another penalty with seven minutes left and, after Peru’s Carlos Zambrano was sent off, scored his 64th international goal when he stabbed home in injury time to make it 4-2. Only Pele, with 77 goals, has scored more for Brazil than Neymar. Ronaldo is third with 62 goals. Edited by PK Chakravarty with  inputs from fifa.com