Rio 2016: Neymar scores winning penalty to clinch Olympic gold for Brazil

Neymar secured Brazil's first-ever gold medal in football at the Summer Games

Neymar the redeemer (Getty)

It had to be Neymar.

After 120 tense minutes of tense football, it fell to the Brazilian captain to step up and deliver for the host nation. And deliver he did.

With the final kick of the game, Neymar held his nerve to fire home Brazil's fifth and final penalty to secure the gold medal.

It was a redeeming moment for the player who left the pitch in tears two years ago during Brazil's 7-1 semi-final loss to Germany after picking up an ankle injury.

But it was tears of joy tonight for the 24-year-old as he fell to the floor in ecstasy, overcome by what he and his side had achieved against the Germans.

It had been Neymar who had originally put Brazil ahead in the first half, curling home a well-placed free-kick that smacked the underside of the bar before bouncing down over the line and up into the roof of the net.

But despite ending the first half on top, Germany fought back and it wasn't long before the visitors had levelled the score. At 58 minutes, Germany's Max Meyer dealt a hammer blow, latching on to full-back Jeremy Toljan's cross from inside the Brazilian box to take the game to 1-1.

Cagey, tense football ensued as the prospect of penalties loomed. When the moment finally arrived though, it was that man Neymar who made the difference.

At 4-4, Brazil's goalkeeper Weverton guessed right to block Nils Petersen's effort and hand Neymar the opportunity to settle the gold medal match.

The rest, they say, is history. After a stalled run-up, the captain sent Germany's Timo Horn the wrong way and clinched his nation's first-ever gold medal in football at the Summer Games.