Football legend Pele says that he is rooting for the “always smiling” Neymar to break his all-time Brazilian goal record of 77 after the Paris Saint-Germain forward took his tally to 68 by scoring against Peru.
Neymar was in tears after scoring for the Selecao in a 4-0 win over Peru in the Copa America, explaining how it had been a difficult few years for his nation and that he just wants to make his people proud.
And Pele, widely considered one of the greatest players ever, commented that it was “impossible not to smile back” when watching Neymar express himself on a football pitch.
“Every time I see this boy, he is smiling,” wrote Pele. “It’s impossible not to smile back. It is contagious.
“I, like all Brazilians, am always happy when I see him playing. Today, he took another step towards my goalscoring record for the Selecao. And I’m rooting for him to get there, with the same joy I’ve had since I saw him play for the first time.”