Top 5 South American players with the most international goals in history

The South Americans have littered the world of football with great moments, teams and individual players across generations. Players from the continent have mesmerised audiences worldwide, displaying their style, culture and passion for the game.

The continent has also been very successful on the international front, in terms of trophies, and picked up a total of 9 World Cups with Brazil claiming 5 and Uruguay and Argentina sharing two wins each.

The current crop of world-class South American talents includes the likes of Suarez and Neymar who are seventh and sixth respectively in the list of South Americans with the most international goals in history.

Here we take a look at the top five South American players with the most international goals in history.

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#5 Gabriel Batistuta

Former Argentinian forward Gabriel Batistuta made 77 appearances for his country and scored 54 goals in the process making him Argentina's second highest goalscorer of all time and fifth on the list of South Americans.

Batistuta began his career in Argentina before moving to Italy and joining Fiorentina and becoming one of the most feared strikers in Europe. The Argentine spent 12 seasons in the Italiana Serie A and notched 14 goals during his time with Fiorentina and Roma.

Batistuta was part of the La Albiceleste squad that claimed the 1991 and 93 Copa America titles as well as the Confederations Cup. The striker was a dominant force with great technical ability and an eye for goal.

#4 Romario

Former Brazilian footballer Romario

Former Brazilian and Barcelona ace, Romario was one of the most skilful, technical and graceful players of his time. A gifted attacking footballer with blistering pace and sound technical ability, Romario won numerous honours with the Catalan giants dubbed the Dream Team at the time, under Johan Cruyff.

Romario scored 55 goals for Brazil during his international career and won the 1994 World Cup in the USA. He was also part of the national team when they lifted two Copa America titles in 1989 and 97.

The little genius was a tricky dribbler with a good eye for goal, and his sudden change of direction caught most of the best defenders in the world by surprise. Romario lit up the game during his playing days and is one of the greatest South American products of all time.

#3 Lionel Messi

Argentina's captain and talisman Messi

Another South American Barcelona great, Lionel Messi is one of the greatest players to have played the beautiful game. The Argentine has scored 61 goals for his country and is third on the list of most international goals scored by a South American.

Messi now 30-years-old has spent his entire career with the Catalan giants and will be eager to put on a good show at the upcoming world cup. The little magician was missed last night during his country's 6-1 drubbing at the hands of Spain. Messi was ruled out of the tie due to a niggling injury but will spearhead his country in Russia.

The attacking maestro, Messi, will shift his attention back to his club, with Barcelona facing a number of important games that will define their season. With the league all but secure, Barcelona is also in the final of the Copa del Ray as well in the quarterfinal stage of the Champions League, as Messi will look to head into the World Cup, high on confidence from his club's successes.

#2 Ronaldo

Ronaldo celebrates scoring the winning goal in the 2002 World Cup final

Former Brazilian legendary striker, Ronaldo Nazario, is second on the list of South Americans with the most international goals, with 62 to his name. The powerful, skilful footballer, won numerous honours for his country, including the 2002 World Cup where he spearheaded the country and claimed the golden boot in Korea/Japan.

Ronaldo's fierce pace, strength and outstanding technical ability made him the most feared footballer on the planet at the time. Defenders were outfoxed, outmuscled and outrun by the sheer brilliance of the player who had a phenomenally quick change of direction and a lethal shot.

The Brazilian was also part of the squad that claimed the 1994 World Cup in America and two Copa America's titles in 1997 and 99. Numerous individual awards were also claimed by the player including 2 Ballon D'ors.

#1 Pele

Pele is widely greatest footballer of all-time

Widely regarded as the greatest to have ever graced the game, Pele tops the list of the South American with the most number of international goals with 77 in his career. The Brazilian is hailed as the finest footballer the world over with his antics and phenomenal footballing ability that guided Brazil to their first three World Cup triumphs.

The country's first World Cup win came in 1958 in Sweden, with the young Pele putting on a show as a 17-year-old in his first tournament appearances. He scored a hattrick in the semi-finals to guide the team to the finals and scored in the final win over Sweden. The player went on the play for another decade, collecting numerous accolades on the way.

He is still his country's highest goal scorer and the only player capable of beating the record is Brazil's current sensation, Neymar who is just 26-years-old and has 53 goals to his name for his country thus far. With the World Cup approaching, Brazil look in good knick to challenge for their sixth World Cup crown.