All until, over the space of ut 17 coins ten days, everything turned full circle. Suddenly there was Neymar, on his knees on the Maracana turf, crying tears of joy and relief and preparing to receive a gold medal having racked up four goals and three assists for a winning team that also ended up earning praise for playing attractive and competitive football.

"However much people talked, we replied with our football. This is one of the happiest moments of my life, " was pretty much all Neymar had to say after leaving the field, relieved but still bristling, as if to underline his ability to stand up to whatever was thrown at him on or off the pitch.

"His talent aside, he's an incredible guy, particularly here with a Seleo, where perhaps the lads might have been a bit surprised by him. At least those who didn't know him, as he was already in Europe by the time most of them turned pro, " explained midfielder Felipe Anderson, on Neymar's importance within the squad. "He looked out for people, he helped in difficult moments and lifted our heads back up. He told us that if we were patient enough, we'd fight back and this moment would come. We owe a large part of this triumph to him. "