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Rio 2016: Neymar steps down as Brazil captain after Olympic triumph

Neymar has announced he intends to step down as Brazil captain after guiding the country to the long-awaited Olympic gold medal at Rio 2016.

Appointed captain of the senior team by Dunga following the 2014 World Cup, Neymar also skippered the largely under-23 side at the Olympic Games on home soil.

Neymar's spot-kick sparked scenes of euphoria inside the famous Maracana, but it did not stop the forward revealing he no longer wanted the armband.

"I do not take it as a burden, it is you [the media] who put it on me," Neymar said in an interview with SporTV.

"Today I have become a champion and I give up the captain's armband. It was something I received and honoured with affection.

"It was an honour to be captain, but from today I stop being captain. I will send a message to [senior coach] Tite that from now he can look for another captain."

"I do not like to put one title above the other. Every competition I contest and win is important. Of course, it had great importance to Brazil and thank God we did it - after a lot of struggling, work and concentration," he said.

"Thanks to my family, friends and colleagues. No one wins alone."