For all their success in other competitions, victory in the Olympic final had eluded Brazil for all these years.
In fact, they’re so desperate over there to complete the set that they allowed their talisman to miss the Copa America Centenario, just so he could play in the home Olympic games.
It paid off in the group games, where he inspired his compatriots to a crucial victory over Denmark, and he ran the show against Honduras in the semi-finals.
The stage was set for the final, and there was an added narrative – opponents Germany had eliminated them from the 2014 World Cup at the Estádio Mineirão, a game which Neymar missed through injury.
Some might have frozen on such a big stage. Others, like Neymar, might do this instead.
This goal is all that separates #BRA & #GER in the Olympic final.
2nd half: @BBCTwo & here: https://t.co/jazAnQQpbq https://t.co/PyzosQPMgK
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 20, 2016
Anyone who thinks football doesn’t have a place in the Olympic Games hasn’t seen a Brazilian crowd cheering on one of the country’s biggest stars.
And the crown in the Maracana weren’t the only ones left awestruck by Neymar.
https://twitter.com/jonathanliew/status/767103325238136833
Strike from Neymar!! 👌👌 #Rio2016
— Rob Timony (@RobTimony) August 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/NutmegRadio/status/767103266400440320
Neymar. What a player
— Jack Lang (@jacklang) August 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/UtdRantcast/status/767103417294721024
https://twitter.com/_Zeets/status/767103423598723073
Most players would struggle to pull off a free-kick of that quality in training, let alone in front of thousands of cheering fans with the weight of a country on your shoulders.
But Germany’s Max Meyer wasn’t going to make things that easy for him, netting a second-half equaliser and ultimately forcing penalties.
After Weverton saved from Nils Petersen, it was left to one man and one man alone to clinch victory.
Neymar Jr kisses the ball…
And 100 million Brazilians go wild.
Brazil win football GOLD!https://t.co/jazAnQQpbq pic.twitter.com/2C65tOeSRT
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 20, 2016
That’s what separates the good from the great, it seems.
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