In 2014, Neymar hit four past Japan, joining Brazil's elite | OneFootball

Neymar celebrates one of his four goals in the 4-0 rout of Japan, in a friendly in Singapore, on October 14, 2014Credits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

On October 14, 2014, Neymar joined a select group of Brazil players after scoring all four goals in the rout of Japan, this Monday’s (29) opponent in the World Cup round of 32. In a friendly in Singapore, he became the eighth player to score at least four times for the Seleção in matches against national teams, joining Evaristo de Macedo, Zizinho, Ademir Menezes, Julinho Botelho, Zico, Careca and Romário.

In the match, the No. 10 will face again the opponent against whom he delivered one of his most memorable performances. With nine goals, he is also the top scorer in meetings between Brazil and the Blue Samurai. Besides the 2014 clash, he scored two in the 4-0 win in 2012, opened the scoring in the 3-0 victory in the opening match of the 2013 Confederations Cup, scored once in the 3-1 win in 2017, and netted the winner in the 1-0 victory in 2022.

The only player in history to score five goals for Brazil against another national team is Evaristo de Macedo. The Brazilian football legend reached that mark in the 9-0 win over Colombia on March 24, 1957, in the Copa América, in Lima, Peru — Didi (2), Pepe and Zizinho completed the scoreline.

Neymar in action during the 4-0 rout of Japan, in a friendly in Singapore, on October 14, 2014Credits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

Zizinho, the first in 1946

On February 3, 1946, Zizinho scored four goals in the 5-1 win over Chile in the Copa América, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Chico scored Brazil’s other goal.

Ademir Menezes in 1950

To secure its biggest-ever World Cup victory, Brazil relied on Ademir Menezes’s clinical finishing, as he scored four of the seven goals in the 7-1 win over Sweden at the Maracanã on July 9, 1950. To this day, it remains Brazil’s biggest World Cup rout. Chico (2) and Maneca also found the net.

Julinho Botelho in 1953

On March 1, 1953, in the Copa América, half of the 8-1 win over Bolivia in Lima, Peru, came from Julinho Botelho. Rodrigues and Pinga, with two goals each, also contributed to the victory.

Evaristo de Macedo scores against Colombia in 1957, in the Copa América; he netted five goals in that match and is the only Brazilian to have achieved this feat against national teamsCredits: Última Hora Public Archive of São Paulo

Zico in 1977

The 8-0 win over Bolivia in the qualifiers on July 14, 1977, was only possible because of Zico’s quality, as he scored four goals that night. Besides him, Roberto Dinamite, Gil, Toninho Cerezo and Marcelo scored in the match played in Cali, Colombia.

Careca in 1989

In the 6-0 rout of Venezuela in the qualifiers, Careca was chiefly responsible for the emphatic scoreline at the Morumbi on August 20, 1989. Silas and Pedro Acosta (own goal) completed the scoring.

Romário in 2000

On October 8, 2000, Romário turned Brazil’s win over Venezuela into a 6-0 rout in the qualifiers. Before that, Euller and Juninho Paulista had already set the victory in motion in Maracaibo, Venezuela.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.