The captain of Brazil’s national team, Neymar Jnr, has announced that he’s stepping down from the position, mere moments after leading the country’s Olympic side to home turf glory in the men’s football tournament.
Brazil beat Germany on penalties, with Neymar scoring the crucial fifth penalty, to hand the host nation their first ever football Olympic gold, and in some way avenge the 7-1 drubbing suffered at the hands of the senior German side at the last world cup.
Neymar captained the U-23 side, being senior captain as well – but announced after the tournament that he wants to relinquish the armband.
“Today I have become a champion, and I give up the captain’s armband,”Neymar told SporTV.
“It was an honour to be captain, but from today I stop being captain. I will send a message to [Brazil manager] Tite that, from now, he can look for another captain.”
Neymar was handed the armband by Dunga after the 2014 world cup, replacing Thiago Silva, who was injured at the time.