Lionel Messi's record: see why Neymar will not break it

Lionel Messi scored in the 3-0 win over Uruguay in the 2022 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL qualifying series to set a new record as the first South American player to score 80 international goals. Two players are close to him, Pele who is retired has 77 and Neymar Jr has 69.

Neymar is believed to be the best player that could break the record but he may not break it. Lionel Messi is yet to retire from Argentina and will still be scoring, so as Neymar scores Messi scores too which makes it difficult to break the record of Messi.

Neymar announced that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be his last World. At the end of the World Cup he will be 31 years and may retire permanently with Brazil which means he may be stopping international football at the same time as Messi which makes the record difficult to break for him.

Neymar made his Brazil debut in 2010 while still playing for Santos and has been Brazil's major player since then, he has played over 100 games and has scored 69 goals. He is eight goals away from breaking Pele's record of 77 for a Brazilian.