Neymar World Cup Goals: Full Record by Year
Neymar has 8 World Cup goals. That total covers the 2014, 2018, and 2022 tournaments, the three World Cups he played for Brazil. He scored 4 goals in 2014, 2 in 2018, and 2 in 2022.
This Neymar World Cup goals count is updated as of May 21, 2026. It changes only if Neymar plays another World Cup and scores again. That makes the 2026 World Cup the next major reference point for anyone tracking Brazil's number 10.
The question sounds simple, but the details matter. Goals in friendlies, qualifiers, Copa America, the Confederations Cup, and the Olympics do not count here. This article focuses only on the FIFA World Cup, the main national-team tournament.
Below, you will find Neymar's goals by edition, opponent, and match context. You will also see how his record compares with other major players and what could change in 2026.
Quick answer: Neymar has 8 World Cup goals
The short answer is clear: Neymar has scored 8 World Cup goals. He scored 4 goals at the 2014 World Cup, 2 goals at the 2018 World Cup, and 2 goals at the 2022 World Cup.
This total includes only FIFA World Cup matches. It does not include Brazil goals in qualifiers, friendlies, the Confederations Cup, Copa America, or the Olympic Games.
One-sentence summary
Neymar has 8 World Cup goals, spread across the 2014, 2018, and 2022 tournaments.
When this number was updated
This article was updated on May 21, 2026. Up to that date, Neymar had not played in another World Cup after 2022.
If he plays for Brazil in 2026 and scores, the total will rise. If he does not play or does not score, Neymar's World Cup goals total remains 8.
Neymar World Cup goals by tournament
The clearest way to understand the number is to split it by tournament. Neymar's most productive World Cup came in 2014, when Brazil hosted the competition and he scored four times.
| World Cup | Neymar goals | Matches played | Main context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 4 | 5 | Brazil's key attacker until his quarter-final injury |
| 2018 | 2 | 5 | Return after a foot injury and quarter-final exit |
| 2022 | 2 | 3 | Injury in the opener, return in the knockouts, goal against Croatia |
| Total | 8 | 13 | Goals in three different World Cups |
The split shows a World Cup career with high impact and repeated injury interruptions. Neymar missed matches in both 2014 and 2022 because of physical problems at decisive moments.
2014 World Cup: 4 goals
At the 2014 World Cup, Neymar scored 4 goals. It remains the tournament in which he scored the most for Brazil.
He scored twice in the opening match against Croatia. He then scored twice more against Cameroon in the group stage. His tournament ended in the quarter-finals, when he suffered a back injury against Colombia.
That injury changed Brazil's campaign. Without Neymar, Brazil lost attacking force before the semi-final against Germany. For that reason, 2014 remains both the most productive and most abruptly interrupted World Cup of his career.
2018 World Cup: 2 goals
At the 2018 World Cup, Neymar scored 2 goals. He arrived at the tournament after a right-foot injury, which affected his preparation.
His first goal came against Costa Rica in the group stage. His second came against Mexico in the round of 16. Brazil then went out in the quarter-finals against Belgium.
The 2018 tournament reads differently from 2014. Neymar played five matches, but he did not arrive with the same rhythm as in the previous cycle. Even so, he still had direct involvement in important moments for Brazil.
2022 World Cup: 2 goals
At the 2022 World Cup, Neymar also scored 2 goals. He injured his ankle in Brazil's opener against Serbia and missed part of the group stage.
When he returned, he scored a penalty against South Korea in the round of 16. He then scored against Croatia in the quarter-finals. That goal moved him level with Pele at the top of Brazil's all-time scoring list, according to the CBF count.
Brazil were eliminated by Croatia on penalties. Still, the knockout goal reinforced an important point: Neymar has scored in major World Cup matches, not only in group-stage games.
Who has Neymar scored against at World Cups?
Neymar has scored against five national teams at World Cups: Croatia, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Mexico, and South Korea. He also scored against Croatia in 2022, repeating the opponent from Brazil's 2014 opener.
The match-by-match list separates each goal from its context:
| Year | Opponent | Stage | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Croatia | Group stage | 2 |
| 2014 | Cameroon | Group stage | 2 |
| 2018 | Costa Rica | Group stage | 1 |
| 2018 | Mexico | Round of 16 | 1 |
| 2022 | South Korea | Round of 16 | 1 |
| 2022 | Croatia | Quarter-final | 1 |
This table shows two things. First, most Neymar World Cup goals came in the group stage. Second, he has also scored in knockout games, including both the round of 16 and the quarter-finals.
Group-stage goals
Of Neymar's 8 World Cup goals, 5 came in the group stage. They were the two against Croatia in 2014, the two against Cameroon in 2014, and the goal against Costa Rica in 2018.
This split explains why 2014 matters so much in his total. In that tournament, Neymar became decisive from the start of Brazil's campaign.
Knockout goals
Neymar has scored 3 World Cup knockout goals. He scored against Mexico in 2018, South Korea in 2022, and Croatia in 2022.
This matters because knockout goals usually carry more historical weight. They come in matches with no margin for error, where one defeat sends the team home.
How does Neymar compare with other World Cup scorers?
With 8 goals, Neymar sits among the leading modern World Cup attackers, but he is still far from the all-time top. The overall list is led by Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 World Cup goals.
For a Brazil-focused reader, the most useful comparison has three layers. The first is all-time World Cup scorers. The second is contemporary stars. The third is Brazilian icons.
Neymar vs Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
Neymar has 8 World Cup goals. Cristiano Ronaldo also has 8. Lionel Messi has 13 after Argentina's 2022 title campaign.
That comparison needs context. Messi played in five World Cups and reached two finals. Cristiano Ronaldo also played in five World Cups. Neymar had played in three World Cups through 2022.
On a per-tournament basis, Neymar kept a relevant scoring pace. However, injuries cost him matches in 2014 and 2022. Those absences reduced his chances to increase the total.
Neymar vs Ronaldo and Pele
Among Brazilian players, Neymar is still behind Ronaldo and Pele in World Cup goals. Ronaldo scored 15 goals at World Cups. Pele scored 12.
Neymar has 8, the same total as several major forwards in tournament history. Still, he would need 4 more goals to reach Pele's World Cup total. He would need 7 more to match Ronaldo.
The gap is large, but not mathematically impossible. The decisive factor is participation. Neymar would need to play the 2026 World Cup in strong physical condition and with a central role in Brazil's attack.
Can Neymar add to his total at the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Neymar can increase his World Cup goals total if he plays at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and scores. Until then, his official total remains 8.
The 2026 World Cup will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The tournament will use an expanded format, with more teams and more matches. That could create more opportunities for forwards on strong national teams.
For Neymar, the question is not only technical. It also depends on fitness, match rhythm, selection, tactical role, and competition inside Brazil's squad.
What has to happen for the number to change
For Neymar to move beyond 8 World Cup goals, three things must happen. First, he must be called up for the 2026 World Cup. Second, he must get on the pitch. Third, he must score.
That sounds obvious, but the separation avoids confusion. Goals in qualifiers or friendlies before the tournament do not change this count. Goals in other competitions also do not affect the total.
If Neymar scores once in 2026, he will reach 9 World Cup goals. With four goals, he would match Pele's World Cup total. With seven, he would match Ronaldo.
How to follow expectations around Brazil
Beyond historical statistics, the 2026 World Cup will have another layer: market expectations. Traders track call-ups, fitness, group draws, bracket paths, and Brazil's likely performance.
Prediction markets do not replace official statistics. They organize collective expectations about future events. In a World Cup context, that can include Brazil's performance, title chances, and goalscoring scenarios.
For readers, the distinction is straightforward. Statistics explain what already happened. Market probabilities help interpret how informed participants price what could happen next.
Why is there confusion around Neymar's numbers?
Confusion appears because Neymar has several different scoring records for Brazil. One number is his total goals for the national team. Another number is his total in the World Cup.
The World Cup count is narrower. It includes only matches in FIFA's main tournament. That is why goals in qualifiers, Copa America, the Confederations Cup, the Olympics, and friendlies stay out.
There is also confusion because of old updates. Many articles were published during or just after the 2022 World Cup. Before the 2026 tournament, the number remains unchanged, but some pages mix projections with completed statistics.
To avoid mistakes, use a simple rule. Check the update date, then confirm whether the article separates World Cup goals from total Brazil goals.
Sources and criteria used in this article
This article uses Neymar's factual World Cup goals count, separate from other competitions. The priority is the list by tournament and by opponent.
The main references are historical and editorial data pages about Neymar at World Cups, including FIFA, ge, Olympics, and Wikipedia's historical FIFA World Cup top goalscorers list.
When different scopes appear, this article keeps the focus on World Cup matches. That is the scope of the core question: how many World Cup goals does Neymar have?
FAQ about Neymar World Cup goals
How many goals did Neymar score at the 2014 World Cup?
Neymar scored 4 goals at the 2014 World Cup. He scored twice against Croatia and twice against Cameroon, with both matches taking place in the group stage.
How many goals did Neymar score at the 2018 World Cup?
Neymar scored 2 goals at the 2018 World Cup. He scored against Costa Rica in the group stage and against Mexico in the round of 16.
How many goals did Neymar score at the 2022 World Cup?
Neymar scored 2 goals at the 2022 World Cup. He scored against South Korea in the round of 16 and against Croatia in the quarter-finals.
Has Neymar ever been a World Cup top scorer?
No. Neymar has never finished a World Cup as the tournament's top scorer. His best single-tournament mark was 2014, when he scored 4 goals.
Does Neymar have more World Cup goals than Cristiano Ronaldo?
No. Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo have the same total: 8 World Cup goals. Lionel Messi has 13.
Can Neymar catch Pele in World Cup goals?
He can, but he would need 4 more World Cup goals. Pele scored 12 goals in the tournament. Neymar has 8.
Conclusion
Neymar has 8 World Cup goals. He scored 4 in 2014, 2 in 2018, and 2 in 2022. He scored against Croatia, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Mexico, and South Korea.
The number matters because it places Neymar among the major recent players in the tournament. However, he is still behind Ronaldo and Pele among Brazilian World Cup scorers.
The 2026 World Cup is the next event that could change this statistic. If Neymar is called up and scores, the count rises. Until then, the correct answer to the question "how many World Cup goals does Neymar have?" remains 8.
At Macro Markets, you can follow how expectations around the World Cup, Brazil, and major sports events evolve in real time. Statistics explain the past. Probabilities help interpret the future.
