Brazil won the friendly with a header from Sandro and a penalty from Neymar just five days before the London Games football competition, which features an under-23 line-up with three over-aged players, kicks off.
Brazil, seeking to win the Olympic title for the first time, sent a powerful message of intent to the other 15 teams in the competition with a silky display in their final warm-up before the Games.
"I am not worried about sending a message to the other teams. My main concern tonight was to get my European-based players, returning from holiday, back in the rhythm of the team," Brazil coach Mano Menezes told reporters.
"That took maybe 20 minutes at the start, but then we played very well for the rest of the half and the match."
On an unusually sunny summer's evening at the Riverside, there was excitement that the Olympics was drawing closer with the theme from "Chariots of Fire" reverberating around stadium before kick-off and the unusual site of the Union Jack fluttering in the breeze.
Friday's match was Britain's only warm-up before the start of their Olympic campaign against Senegal at Old Trafford next Thursday.
"They are one of the outstanding international teams around now, let alone Olympic teams or under 23 sides," Pearce said.
"This squad shows how seriously they are taking this tournament, I think they are all internationals apart from their goalie. “They are the team everyone will have to beat if you want to win the gold medal."
As well as the attraction of Brazil and Britain that attracted 24,721 to the ground, a few thousand were also present to watch the afternoon match between Britain's women and Swed
