Brazil legend Pele has praised his country 's current star Neymar as 'an excellent young player ' but says he will never replace him as the footballing 'king ' even if he matches his goalscoring record . Neymar has scored 42 international goals despite only turning 23 last month , and Pele 's Brazilian record of 77 strikes is well within his sights with a long career at the top still ahead of him . But the 74-year-old Brazilian icon feels that even if the young pretender can match his incredible feat , he will still not be considered in the same class as him . Brazil legend Pele says that even if Neymar matches his goalscoring record he still wo n't be the 'king ' Neymar has 42 international goals at the age of just 23 and could easily catch Pele if he keeps up that rate . ' I think to be the new king , the new Pele , is impossible , ' he said of Neymar . 'My mother and my father closed the machine . I think he 's a good player , an excellent young player and he 's going to be a big star , no doubt . ' Brazil face France on Wednesday night in Paris and Pele feels that despite their humiliation at the last tournament on home territory , Brazil can prove to be an international force again ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia . ' I think to be the new king , the new Pele , is impossible , ' Pele said of his young pretender in the national team . Neymar leads the ball away from Dani Carvajal as Barcelona won El Clasico against Real Madrid on Sunday . When asked whether Brazil , being led once again by head coach Dunga , could win the title in Russia in three years time , Pele said : ' I hope so . ' I think with Dunga , ( he ) has a different style to Felipe ( Scolari ) , more defensive , but I believe in Dunga . He could make a good national team . ' Brazilian coach Dunga has Pele 's backing , with the legendary forward saying he could win the World Cup .
Pele praised El Clasico but says he will not match his legacy as a Brazil icon . El Clasico has 42 international goals and could reach Pele 's record of 77 . But even if El Clasico does that , Pele says 'the machine is closed ' Former Santos striker threw his backing behind Brazilian coach Dunga . Pele : Why Lionel Messi is better than Cristiano Ronaldo .