Neymar vs Pelé
Brazil against Brazil. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Neymar
Brazil · 2010–23 · LM
- Almanac rating
- 93
- Rank in Brazil
- #10 of 33
- Caps
- 130 · 80 goals
- Clubs
- Santos, FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain
- Honours
- 2× South American Footballer of the Year (2011–2012)
Two years after the 7-1 in Belo Horizonte, he beat Germany at the Maracanã on 20 August 2016, curling a free kick into the top corner and then taking the penalty that decided the shootout for Brazil's first Olympic football gold. A brace against Bolivia in 2023 took him past Pelé as Brazil's leading scorer, and his club years brought the 2015 Champions League with Barcelona, the 2011 Libertadores with Santos, two Liga titles and Ligue 1 in Paris. Career record: 130 caps and 80 goals for Brazil; club career at Santos, FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain; honours include 2× South American Footballer of the Year (2011–2012).
Pelé
Brazil · 1957–71 · SS
- Almanac rating
- 99
- Rank in Brazil
- #1 of 33
- Caps
- 92 · 77 goals
- Clubs
- Bauru Atlético Clube, Santos, New York Cosmos
- Honours
- FIFA Player of the Century 2000 · South American Footballer of the Year 1973 · 5× Hall of Fame (1967–1997)
On 19 November 1969 the Maracanã stopped while photographers swarmed the pitch and 80,000 Vasco supporters cheered Pelé, who had just converted the penalty that was his thousandth goal. He is the only man with three World Cups, scoring twice in the 1958 final at seventeen, and he took the Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup with Santos in both 1962 and 1963 along with five Taça Brasil titles. Career record: 92 caps and 77 goals for Brazil; club career at Bauru Atlético Clube, Santos, New York Cosmos; honours include South American Footballer of the Year 1973, FIFA Player of the Century 2000, 5× Hall of Fame (1967–1997).
The verdict
The almanac puts Pelé ahead by 6 rating points, 99 against 93.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.