Pele Backs Neymar to Lead Brazil to World Cup Glory in Russia

Brazilian legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento – also popularly known as Pele – has thrown his full support behind Brazil’s biggest attacking threat Neymar to help the nation win the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Pele is confident Brazil can lift their sixth World Cup title in Russia

Four years ago when Brazil faced Germany in the semi-finals on their home soil – which saw them demolished 7-1 by the European side - Neymar was forced to watch the game from the sidelines having picked up a nerve-wracking injury in the quarter-finals against Colombia.

This time around, Pele has urged Neymar to take full advantage of the opportunity ahead of him to lead Brazil to success at the 2018 World Cup in Russia – it would be their first World Cup title since their triumph over Germany at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

Despite Neymar being injured at the moment, it’s expected he will recover on time when the Brazil team boards the plane to Russia, according to providers of internet betting in Brazil. Pele is still the country’s top goalscorer with 77 strikes in 92 appearances, while Neymar sits in fourth position with 53 goals in 83 caps. But with the latter still being relatively young at 26 years of age, we can see him surpass Pele’s record in a few years.

Pele is certain that Brazil can go far in the upcoming tournament in Russia, thanks mainly to their star-studded squad that includes players in all the top clubs across Europe.


Neymar has huge pressure on shoulders for the 2018 World Cup. (Photo: WWG)
“Everybody knows Brazil have the best individual players in Europe,” said the 77-year-old football legend. “I think our coach, Tite, has had little time to set up the team. We have three months to set up the team. Tite is a very good coach, but he doesn’t yet have the team working together. This will be a short time for them. But individual players, no doubt Brazil has a team to get to the final of the World Cup.”

2018 World Cup betting odds

Bet on 2018 World Cup with Bet365 Sportsbook today! Brazil 5.00 (4/1) are the ultimate favourites for the tournament, despite a number of other countries showing better form when they take to the field. Germany 5.50 (9/2) are in second spot to defend their World Cup title, while Spain 7.00 (6/1) are in third place in terms of odds to win the tournament. France 7.50 (13/2) claim fourth place on the odds chart, while Brazil’s biggest rivals Argentina 10.00 (9/1) are heavy underdogs to lift the World Cup trophy, per online sportsbooks in Brazil.

(Check out our review on Bet365 Sportsbook review for more info about the online betting site.)

Brazil – who are in Group E – have been paired with Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia. The five-time World Cup champions will kick off their Russian adventure against Switzerland on June 17 (H 1.33 (1/3) D 5.00 (4/1) A 9.00 (8/1)), while the second game will see them play fellow South Americans Costa Rica on June 22 (H 1.22 (11/50) D 6.00 (5/1) A 13.00 (12/1)). And in their final group game on June 27, Serbia will act as hosts against Brazil (H 8.50 (15/2) D 4.75 (15/4) A 1.36 (9/25)).