Brazil superstar Neymar carries a banner in honor of ailing legend Pele after Monday's World Cup win over South Korea.

DOHA, Qatar — It was the same old Neymar out there, looking fit and scoring a goal to move closer to Pele's all-time record and lead Brazil into the World Cup quarterfinals.

Neymar returned from injury and converted a first-half penalty in Brazil's 4-1 win over South Korea in the last 16 on Monday. He reached 76 goals with the Selecao, one shy of the mark set by Pele, who said he would watch the match from his hospital bed in Sao Paulo.

"I was very scared," Neymar said. "It was very difficult after getting injured like I did. I was crying the entire night. My family knows what I had to go through. But in the end it all worked out. It was worth the effort to keep undergoing physiotherapy."

The 82-year-old Pele is recovering from a respiratory infection that was aggravated by COVID-19, leaving fans in Brazil and in Qatar worried about his condition. Neymar carried a banner with the soccer great's image and "Pele" written on it after the match, and the entire team then posed behind it near midfield.

"It's tough to talk about Pele with what he is going through," Neymar said. "We wish he can get well soon. We hope we made him feel a bit more comfortable with the banner and with the victory."

South Korea was trying to advance past the last 16 for the first time since its historic run to the semifinals as a co-host in 2002.

Neymar damaged ligaments in his right ankle in the team's opening match against Serbia and at the time there were doubts if he would play again at the World Cup. He was clearly back, and there were no signs of the injury as he led Brazil to a comfortable victory and a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals for the eighth straight time.

Brazil will next play Croatia on Friday.

Neymar scored his first goal of this year's World Cup after kissing the ball and calmly sending a low shot from the spot after waiting for the goalkeeper to choose a side in the 13th minute. He danced as his teammates huddled around him, then did dance moves along with Vinicius Junior and other teammates before raising his arms to the sky and smiling broadly.

Richarlison paid tribute to the team's talisman, saying Neymar's very presence on the pitch makes the game easier for everyone else.

"I'm very happy about the return of Neymar. On the pitch he drags away two or three players creating space for the others," said Richarlison, who now has three goals in the tournament.

"Neymar provides a competitive advantage, he makes the difference on the pitch — he's the driving force," added assistant coach Cesar Sampaio.

Tottenham striker Richarlison also praised coach Tite's decision to rest almost the entire first team in Brazil's last group-stage match, a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon after its progress to the knockout stage was already secure.

"We played with intensity from the first minute and that was because we rested a part of the team in the last match, so you have to give credit to the boss," said Richarlison.

Neymar was forced out of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after getting hurt in the quarterfinals. On Monday, he joined Pele and Ronaldo with goals for Brazil in three different World Cups.

Fans chanted his name as he walked off the field after the match. He had been substituted in the 81st.

Vinicius Junior scored the first goal from inside the area after a cross by Raphinha in the seventh minute, Richarlison added to the lead from close range after a nice exchange of passes in the 29th, and Lucas Paqueta scored the fourth before halftime after an assist by Vinicius Junior.

They celebrated each goal by dancing, and even Brazil coach Tite participated in Richarlison's traditional "pigeon" celebration.

Paik Seung-ho scored South Korea's goal in the 76th minute.

South Korea coach Paulo Bento was noncommittal on his future with the team after the match. The 53-year-old Portuguese took the reins in 2018 and his contract is due to end now.

Legend honored

There were many banners and shirts honoring Pele at Stadium 974, and fans chanted the Brazil great's name and opened a large banner with his image behind one of the goals in the 10th minute of each half. Pele used to wear the No 10 jersey.