Lionel Messi and Neymar now reign as South America‘s all-time leading goal-scorers, each achieving this distinction through their recent standout performances on the international stage.
During the ongoing international break, Messi showcased his brilliance with a stunning free-kick goal that helped Argentina secure a crucial victory over Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier. This achievement elevated Messi’s total goals for La Albiceleste to 104, positioning him as South America’s highest-ever goal-scorer.
Meanwhile, Neymar, who recently made a move to Saudi Arabia, demonstrated his prowess by netting a brace for Brazil against Bolivia in another World Cup qualifier on September 9. Neymar’s double shattered Pele’s long-standing goal record for the Samba Boys, placing him just behind Messi in the list of South America’s all-time top goal-scorers, according to ESPN.
Here’s an overview of the top eight all-time leading goal-scorers in South America:
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 104 goals
- Neymar Jr (Brazil) – 79 goals
- Pele (Brazil) – 77 goals
- Ronaldo Nazário (Brazil) – 62 goals
- Romario (Brazil) – 55 goals
- Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina) – 54 goals
- Zico (Brazil) – 48 goals
- Diego Maradona (Argentina) – 34 goals
These football legends have left an indelible mark on the South American football landscape, with their incredible goal-scoring feats solidifying their places in the sport’s history.