Neymar Confirms He'll Play at Rio 2016 Olympics to Ease World Cup Agony

After the injury that destroyed his World Cup dreams of a home soil victory, Neymar has confirmed he will represent Brazil at the forthcoming 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

It has been over half a year since the Selecao were destroyed 7-1 by Germany, in Neymar's absence, and the superstar now wishes to make amends for that failure.

Marca quote the iconic Barcelona player speaking about his hopes and dreams, and the desire he possesses to capture a gold medal:

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I hope to be part of the group and to win the title for the Brazilian people, especially because we're playing at home. Winning at the Maracana would be incredible, unforgettable, and you can be sure we'll give our best on the pitch to make it happen.

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Ronald Zak/Associated Press

Neymar represented his country at the London 2012 Olympics, where he and Brazil won the silver medal—losing in the final to a plucky Mexico team.

It now seems the player wants to replicate that former success and go one better, with the experience fondly remembered by himself, per Marca:

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It was something that really made a big impression on me and that I'll remember for the rest of my life. I already imagine myself playing in the Olympic Games in my own country—it will be a dream come true. I've had the opportunity to play in the Confederations Cup and the World Cup in Brazil. So now the Olympic Games is all that's missing. It will bring me a lot of joy.

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Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Neymar sustained a dangerous back injury for Brazil in their match with Colombia at the World Cup, ruling him out of the rest of the competition at the quarter-finals stage.

The player was carried from the pitch in tears as the world held its breath—and the attacker was later diagnosed with a fractured vertebra after Juan Zuniga kneed him in the back, per BBC Sport.

The injury sapped the life out of the Brazilian challenge, and without their star player, they were easy pickings for the Germans in the semis.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Neymar has suffered a difficult start to his Barcelona career, but the signs are now present that he is forming a dangerous partnership with Lionel Messi.

The 22-year-old has scored an impressive 17 goals in 18 La Liga and Champions League starts, per WhoScored.com, and is a blossoming rose for his club.

WhoScored recently named both team-mates in their European team of the week—giving both players a set of amazing performance ratings to show how brilliant they are together, as highlighted by Bleacher Report UK on social media:

Siu Wu/Associated Press

Sky Sports' Guillem Balague wrote about the growing chemistry between the pair, comparing it to Messi's former partnership with Cesc Fabregas:

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In the last year, Neymar and Messi have developed in tandem and now have an understanding which can rival, if not better, the previous one at Barcelona. When you look at the goals they have scored so far, and in terms of assists, it’s incredible. 

Now we are talking about two South American friends at the Camp Nou, a relationship which mirrors that of Messi and Cesc [Fabregas].

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Peter Dejong/Associated Press

Neymar has improved since the World Cup and is now starting to really develop into one of the world's best. 

He has always had the potential to do this, but we were left wondering if he could take the pressure of being Brazil's main hope.

The Olympics will help the Brazilian people heal after the embarrassment of the World Cup, and 2016 can't come quickly enough for the South Americans.

Neymar will be a further two years into his development, and by this stage he might have surpassed his amazing partner for Barca.