Neymar plays hero as Brazil beats Germany for gold in men's soccer

RIO DE JANEIRO — There were no empty seats for this one. No apathy. The residents of Rio and the country of Brazil might not have cared passionately for these Olympics, but they cared about this part of it.

They cared for their pride and their soccer culture, they cared for this gold medal unlike any other on offer. And on this night of drama, suspense and the permanent, paralyzing fear of more heartache, they cared for the sons of a nation who soothed the souls of millions.

When Neymar, Brazil’s modern soccer icon, delivered the winning kick in an exhilarating shootout to defeat Germany and claim a golden triumph, little else mattered for the yellow-clad masses.

Overdramatic? Not here. Not in this country where part of its identity is rooted in soccer success. Here, where the people don’t like their politicians, despair at their social problems and could think of a hundred different ways to spend all that Olympic money.

Now it all seems worth it. Because it was perfect, a storybook ending capped off by this country’s sporting poster boy. Neymar had opened scoring in the first half with a superb free kick, but Germany fought back gamely, with Max Meyer’s equalizer taking the game into extra time.

And then, the dreaded penalties. Germany is expert at them, having a near-perfect shootout record in major tournaments, but perhaps this was destiny. Nils Petersen’s fifth effort for the Germans was saved by goalkeeper Weverton, and then Neymar stepped forward to ice it.

In that instant, the darkest hour of Brazil’s recent soccer history saw its narrative change. They will still remember the 7-1 defeat to the this opponent in the 2014 World Cup semifinal on home soil, but it will no longer carry the same burning sting.

It will no longer haunt so deeply. Olympic soccer is not the same level as World Cup soccer — it is played by teams of players age 23 and under, with three exceptions. Yet that almost makes it better. Brazil has won the World Cup five times but it had never previously won the Olympics.

Until this, the Olympics had done little for Rio’s morale. There have been administrative headaches and no great bump in Brazilian performance. The people, to all appearances, haven’t really wanted the Olympics here at all.

But they wanted this. They wanted victory in the sport they cherish above all others, against the opponent they respect above any, to take the sting of a nightmare that has stewed for two years and change.

There were hints here that more misery could follow. After being dominated in the first half, Germany rebounded strongly. That the equalizer was deserved would have concerned the soccer experts. That it came from a man, Meyer, with a “7” on his back would have disturbed those of a superstitious leaning. Brazil hasn’t been able to avoid that number for a while.

Now it has others to think about. Like “6”; the total of Olympic men’s soccer medals it has now won after previously making do with three silvers and a pair of bronzes. Or “10”, Neymar’s number, the one you see on the backs of little boys all over Brazil. Or “1” — because for Brazil, this was the one that mattered.

BEST IMAGES FROM AUG. 20 AT THE OLYMPICS