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GOLDEN BOY . . . Brazil forward Neymar celebrates scoring the winning penalty during the shoot-out against Germany in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games men’s football gold medal match in Rio on Saturday night. The Barcelona superstar is now the undisputed king of his country after winning gold. – AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO. — Football superstar Neymar believes he has silenced his critics after helping Brazil win Olympic gold on Saturday night. Neymar shed tears of joy after delivering Brazil’s first men’s soccer gold medal with the winning penalty in a 5-4 shootout triumph over Germany after a thrilling final ended in a draw following extra-time on Saturday.

Brazil had lost the Olympic final three times – in 1984, 1988 and 2012 – but they finally got the gold they craved on a dramatic night at the Maracana stadium in which they outplayed the Germans but were saved three times by the woodwork.

Neymar had put the hosts ahead with a superb free kick after 27 minutes but Germany captain Maximilian Meyer equalized just before the hour to take the game into the extra period at 1-1.

The Barcelona star went into the game haunted by the agony of two years ago, where Brazil were thumped 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals of the World Cup on home soil.

He was absent from that clash having been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after suffering a broken back against Colombia, but shone against the same opposition at the Maracana.

Neymar struck the winning penalty as the hosts claimed a first ever Olympic football gold medal before announcing his intention to step down as captain of the national team on Saturday night.

The Barcelona forward slotted home to jubilant scenes at a packed Maracana as a 5-4 shoot-out win over Germany, after a 1-1 draw, exacted revenge for a humiliating 7-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to the world champions two years ago.

Speaking afterwards, the 24-year-old Neymar admitted his relief at banishing the nation’s demons and playing a starring role in the process.

“This is one of the best things that has happened in my life. That’s it,” said Neymar, who sank to his knees in tears after scoring from the spot.

“Now my critics will have to shut up.

“I can’t begin to describe my feelings. I have fulfilled my dream and to have fulfilled it in my home country makes me very proud.”

However, he also suddenly stepped down as captain after taking on the role in 2014 following Brazil’s disastrous World Cup exit.

“It was an honour to be captain, but from today I am no longer captain,” he told SporTV.

Olympic gold was the only major title to have escaped five-time world champions Brazil in their history.

In front of the biggest crowd of Rio’s Games, including nine-time Jamaican gold medallist Usain Bolt, Neymar’s brilliant free-kick handed Brazil a first-half lead.

In honour of the retiring sprinting great, Neymar even adopted the “lightning bolt” celebration, whilst chants of “ole, ole, ole, Neymar” rang around Rio’s most iconic arena.

However, Germany captain Max Meyer enjoyed a special celebration of his own as he taunted the raucous 78 000 crowd at the Maracana by kissing the number seven on his shirt when he swept home Jeremy Toljan’s cross just before the hour mark.

The first eight penalties in the shootout were all successful before Brazil goalkeeper Weverton stopped Nils Petersen’s effort to set the stage for Neymar.

And he didn’t disappoint as, with the weight of a nation on his shoulders, he rifled the ball into the top corner.

“Now they’ll (the critics) have to swallow what they said,” added Neymar after being fiercely criticised for his underwhelming early displays in the tournament.

Brazil Olympic coach Rogerio Micale said Neymar’s decision to leave the captaincy in the hands of new senior coach Tite demonstrated his newfound “maturity.”

“It demonstrates maturity on Neymar’s part. He is a leader in the national team, he is dedicated,” said Micale.

“I finish this tournament with the best possible impressions of Neymar as do the team.”

And departing German coach Horst Hrubesch refused to be downhearted with silver on Germany’s first appearance at the Games for 28 years.

“I am smiling all the time because I am proud of what we achieved.”

In stark contrast to the empty seats on show across the Games, even for some of Bolt’s marquee races, there wasn’t a seat to be had at the Maracana — where Germany won the World Cup against Lionel Messi’s Argentina two years ago.

However, it was for the 7-1 mauling in Belo Horizonte five days previously that Brazil were seeking revenge.

None of the players that took to the field that day started on Saturday.

Neymar missed the darkest day in Brazil’s football history due to two broken bones in his back suffered during a bruising quarter-final win over Colombia.

Yet, the good fortune that escaped Brazil on home soil two years ago was certainly with them in the first-half as Germany were desperately unlucky to go in behind at the break.

Julian Brandt’s fine curling effort came back off the bar, whilst Sven Bender also hit the woodwork from close range. In between times, Neymar had opened the scoring via the bar with a sumptuous dipping effort from 25 yards for his third goal of the tournament.

However, Weverton was beaten for the first time in the competition just before the hour mark when Meyer swept home Toljan’s low cross.

Brazil piled on the pressure in the final half hour of normal time as Gabriel Jesus turned Renato Augusto’s dangerous cross just wide, substitute Felipe Anderson fluffed his lines and Neymar’s effort from distance flew just off target. — AFP.