The gold medal remained the only worldwide honour evading Brazil, and the 24-year-old clinched it with the winning penalty in a 5-4 shootout victory over Germany.
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“Today I have been proclaimed a champion and I hand over the armband as captain”, Neymar told SporTV after scoring the winning penalty in a 5-4 shootout win over Germany on Saturday.
“I’ve already talked to my family and from now on I don’t want to be captain of the Brazilian team”, he said after the game.
Neymar inspired Brazil to redemption, revenge and glory, helping atone for the most humiliating night in the country’s footballing history by defeating nemesis Germany on penalties to finally win Olympic gold. “I will send a message to [senior coach] Tite that from now he can look for another captain”.
Brazil’s five penalties were of such high quality and Germany’s goalkeeper, Horn, barely came close to saving any of them before Brazilian goalkeeper Weverton Pereira Silva saved Petersen’s kick.
Neither side could find a victor before the drama of the penalty shootout gave Brazil the gold.
Neymar netted Brazil’s goal in the 26th minute to send the Maracana Stadium agog but the celebration was cut short in the 58th minute when Meyer equalised for the Germans.
Neymar added: “This is one of the best things that has happened in my life”.
“I can’t begin to describe them [my feelings]”, he said. “I have fulfilled my dream and to have fulfilled it in my home country makes me very proud”. “God loves Neymar like he loves all this team”.
It comes two years after Germany thrashed Brazil 7-1 in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals in Belo Horizonte.
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Weverton was full of praise for Neymar, saying, “God has blessed me”.
