The Selecao captain can cement his status as one of the Selecao's greats when he leads his team into Saturday's Olympic final at the Maracana
Neymar stands one step from greatness, as he has the opportunity to make history by doing what nobody before him could do.
On Saturday the Brazil captain leads out the hosts of a first ever South American Olympic host aiming to claim what would be the five-time world champions’ first ever gold medal for football.
The one title for which Brazil are eligible but yet to win, Olympic football means more to the Selecao than most. The quest for gold has become an obsession.
Back on home soil after the shocking 7-1 defeat to Germany at World Cup 2014, Neymar, Rio 2016’s poster boy, stands on the verge of immorality.
It will be his first international final since the Confederations Cup of 2013, when he inspired his side to a stunning 3-0 victory over then reigning European and world champions Spain.
Scoring in a 3-0 drubbing at the Maracana, Neymar led Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side back into the hearts of the 200 million. Brazil were winners yet again, and Neymar was their star.
But a year later it all fell apart. He was injured in the quarter-final victory over Colombia and forced to miss the now infamous defeat to Germany in the final four as Brazil capitulated.
He has been mostly absent ever since. At Copa America 2015, his tournament was ended in Brazil’s second group-match after a red card against Colombia saw him suspended for the remainder of the competition. Dunga’s side crashed out to Paraguay on penalties in the second round.
He was then forced to sit out of this year’s Copa America after Barcelona refused to allow their star to play back-to-back international tournaments. Faced with a choice between that and the Olympic Games on home soil, the decision was unanimous.
But his tournament didn’t get off to the best of starts. He was singled out for major criticism from the locals after Brazil slumped to goalless draws with Denmark and Iraq.
He then refused to speak to the press, earning criticism from a number of voices in the local media who insisted a captain should stand up and answer for his team.
Brazil’s early struggles urged a change in shape and approach from coach Rogerio Micale, and since Brazil, and Neymar, have roared back into form.
He starred in the 3-0 rout of Denmark and exorcised a demon in the quarter-finals against Colombia, overcoming some rough treatment to keep his cool and usher his side into the final four.
Leading an attacking 4-2-4, he hit three goals in three matches. Neymar is once again the protagonist at Rio 2016.
Back at the Maracana, he is now just one match away from realising a dream and writing himself into the history of the most successful footballing nation on the planet.
That the final will be played against Germany adds to the narrative. It may not be enough to exact revenge for the 7-1, but it will certainly ease the pain of the scars that remain from World Cup 2014.
Immortality awaits. Over to you, Ney.
..... - Goal