Neymar Carries a Nation's Hopes on His Shoulders as Brazil Go for Olympic Gold

Neymar fought incessantly for the right to lead his team out at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. But now the real work starts, as Barcelona's star prepares to take a leading role in the quest to break the Selecao's gold-medal drought in their own backyard. 

Whichever way you look at it, no team can measure up to Brazil when it comes to international success. The logical starting point would be the five World Cups that sit in the trophy cabinet, won by legends as diverse as Garrincha, Pele, Jairzinho, Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, to name just a handful. 

The list of silverware goes on. The Selecao have triumphed eight times in the Copa America or its forerunner, the South American Championship, placing them behind just Uruguay and Argentina in the overall rankings. And of the nine Confederations Cup tournaments that have taken place since 1992, Brazil have lifted the trophy on no fewer than four occasions. 

But there is one black mark against that otherwise flawless record that Neymar and the rest of his team-mates will be desperate to erase. Despite three final appearances, they have never triumphed in the Olympic Games. With the show coming to Carioca country in August, there is no room for failure, despite the coaching upheaval that has afflicted Brazil in the aftermath of the Copa America. 

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The first step to glory, in the eyes of the Brazilian Football Confederation, ex-coach Dunga and everyone involved, was making sure Neymar would be involved. This was no easy task. Unlike other major tournaments, the Olympics football competition is not a FIFA-sanctioned event, and thus clubs have no obligation to release their star players. 

June's Copa America Centenario in the United States further complicated the panorama. Neymar was keen to play both competitions, but after a gruelling season with Barcelona, the Catalans were not prepared to consider that option. A compromise was reached, according to the Associated Press (via MailOnline): The 24-year-old superstar would be made available for Rio if he was not picked for the Copa. 

"It was more or less my choice. Barca didn’t want me to play both competitions and asked me to pick one. I chose the Olympics with Gilmar Rinaldi (co-ordinator of the Brazil teams) and Dunga (former Coach)," AS reported Neymar as saying (reported by Football Espana, via Eurosport).

"Sometimes you have friction with your club but with Barcelona it all ended well," Neymar said. "They let me pick which championship and I opted for the Olympics."

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Why did the forward pick the supposedly weaker Olympics over the Copa? Because it is the competition that all Brazil wants to win and is one of the nation's best chances for a gold medal along with fellow dominant sport volleyball. Neymar would also love to reverse the disappointment of 2012, which cost then-coach Mano Menezes his job. 

Having been dubbed hot favourites for the title in London and winning all five games up to the gold-medal match, Brazil were shocked in the final by unfancied Mexico. A team with the likes of Neymar, Thiago Silva, Marcelo, Hulk and other household names went down 2-1 and kept the Olympic drought running for at least four more painful years. 

Failure is not tolerated at the head of the Selecao. Menezes found that out in 2012, as did Dunga in June, when he was removed from his post after an embarrassing first-round exit in the U.S. Rogerio Micale is the man charged with bringing home Olympic glory as Tite takes care of the seniors, and first impressions suggest he will not repeat the mistakes of his predecessors. 

Menezes gambled on marquee names at the last Games, but the new coach is betting on the youth factor. Aside from Neymar, unheralded Atletico Paranaense goalkeeper Weverton—a late call-up for injured veteran Fernando Prass—and Beijing Guoan's Renato Augusto make up the over-23 contingent. 

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The rest of the team are young, hungry and largely based in Brazil. Just four of Micale's squad play in Europe, plus China-based Augusto, compared to 14 overseas picks in 2012. The Selecao's hopes lie with the kids: Santos defender Zeca, Thiago Maia in the middle of the field and, most excitingly, the two Gabriels—Jesus and Barbosa—leading the forward line alongside their captain. 

Neymar learned from the best in Spain, as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez took him under their wings and turned him into one of the finest strikers on the planet. Now, it is time for the apprentice to become the master. His tutelage of Brazil's immensely talented but inexperienced wonderkids will be crucial if the side are to take gold in Rio. 

It is a great responsibility but one Neymar is ready to shoulder. At 24, the Barcelona man has already won everything there is to win in club football. Now, he has the task of setting in motion a new cycle in Brazilian football that starts with the Olympics and, with a bit of luck, will reach its peak in time for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Brazil is expectant, but standard-bearer Neymar has the quality and maturity to deliver.