Lionel Messi and Neymar now reign as South America's all-time leading goal-scorers, each achieving this distinction through their recent standout performances on the international stage.

During the ongoing international break, Messi showcased his brilliance with a stunning free-kick goal that helped Argentina secure a crucial victory over Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier. This achievement elevated Messi's total goals for La Albiceleste to 104, positioning him as South America's highest-ever goal-scorer.

Meanwhile, Neymar, who recently made a move to Saudi Arabia, demonstrated his prowess by netting a brace for Brazil against Bolivia in another World Cup qualifier on September 9. Neymar's double shattered Pele's long-standing goal record for the Samba Boys, placing him just behind Messi in the list of South America's all-time top goal-scorers, according to ESPN.

Here's an overview of the top eight all-time leading goal-scorers in South America:

Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 104 goals

Neymar Jr (Brazil) - 79 goals

Pele (Brazil) - 77 goals

Ronaldo Nazário (Brazil) - 62 goals

Romario (Brazil) - 55 goals

Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina) - 54 goals

Zico (Brazil) - 48 goals

Diego Maradona (Argentina) - 34 goals

These football legends have left an indelible mark on the South American football landscape, with their incredible goal-scoring feats solidifying their places in the sport's history.