Pele delighted after Brazil win maiden Olympic football gold

Neymar was injured when Germany blasted his teammates two years ago.

“That’s it”, Neymar said.

Saturday night’s victory was not only Neymar’s redemption, it was a nation’s. Brazil had been battered by recession, political scandal, health scares over polluted water and the Zika virus and questions over whether it could pull off hosting the Olympics.

And they didn’t have to wait long for Neymar to deliver his first telling contribution. And they did it with a lot of help from one of their best and most recognizable players – Neymar.

Neymar was on the World Cup team but didn’t play against Germany because of a back injury sustained in the quarterfinals against Colombia. Fireworks burst over the stadium, vehicle horns blared and fans sang and tossed beer into the air.

The Olympic final came as a must win for Brazil, who came off a crushing loss to Germany in the 7-1 semifinal thrashing in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The U.S. medal haul also included Matthew Centrowitz winning the 1,500-meters – the first American to take gold in the event in more than 100 years.

Anderson then nearly scored 16 minutes into extra time but Horn got down superbly to block his shot as he raced in on goal.

The Barcelona star stayed calm to stroke home the decisive kick after Weverton saved from Nils Petersen in the only failure from the spot.

Brazil has enjoyed myriad euphoric successes on the worldwide stage since, but glory on its own turf – with the entire world watching – remained the ultimate goal.

“I don’t have words to say anything”, Neymar said, sobbing.

He just expressed gratitude to his teammates, family, and friends who were there by his team during the most hard moments.

I don’t know Portuguese, but I do know emotion. “God loves Neymar like he loves all of this team”. He did not elaborate.

The 2016 Olympic Games were already Brazil’s most successful.

What other legendary Brazilian footballers of yesteryears could not do, the 24-year-old footballer achieved leading his national team from the front.

It may not be as fashionable as a World Cup, but for the players and the local population, it was nothing less than winning one. It was only after the bronze medal was hung around her neck did she reveal that her father had passed away two months before the games. He also countered the doubters who dogged him early in the games. “This ball is mine, it’s part of history. We responded as necessary and we did this in the short time that was available to us”. “Dedicated”, Micale said through a translator. “We see that not all was lost, our football is still alive”. Neymar comes up to the line focused knowing he can win the game.

“Now the respect is back”, said fan Guilherme Junior. “Please visit us again soon”.