No sport in the world brings out emotions like soccer does. Club soccer especially when it comes to the end of the season or the Champions League Final still holds no candle to the pandemonium that international soccer creates. International soccer brings out the emotions of everyone involved; from the players to the fans to even the stuffy politicians.I am not old enough to have lived in the eras of Pele and Maradona to know what it really means for people around the world to truly worship a mere mortal as a God. I am old enough though to slightly remember the greatness of players like Ronaldo, more so Ronaldinho, Beckham, and Thierry Henry. Go ahead and call me young, naive, or even stupid if you will, but no player thus far in the last 19 or so years that I can actually remember watching international soccer has tugged at my heartstrings a much as Neymar has.

The raw emotion that Neymar plays with in every match, especially in those where he is wearing the famed yellow jersey, is infectious. Neymar lives and breathes for the beautiful game and he affects his teammates in ways more formidable than other players. I am sure everyone remembers the infamous 2014 World Cup semi-final match. When the players walked out for the national anthems of that match, David Luiz and Julio Cesar were holding up Neymar’s jersey. Yes we all know Neymar was badly injured in the match against Colombia, but why hold up Neymar’s jersey during the national anthem?

It’s because without Neymar, Brazil was missing its vital organ. Although Neymar was not the Captain at that point, Brazil were missing the one person who kept the team whole. The one person whose dazzling personality kept the team calm. Without Neymar, and without their Captain Thiago Silva, Brazil collapsed.

Fast-forward to the Olympics. Ok we all know Olympics soccer is not on par with the World Cup or the continental tournaments like Copa America and the Euros. The Olympics has the ridiculous under-23 with the exception of 3 overage players rule that makes it a lesser tournament. I do not understand this rule considering basketball, hockey, women’s soccer, and other team sports in the Olympics have no age restriction. If men’s soccer removed the age restriction the tournament would have a lot more meaning to everyone. It’s a ridiculous rule but regardless an Olympic gold medal is an Olympic gold medal. In pretty much every other sport, an Olympic medal is the pinnacle of excellence. Winning a gold medal puts you on the same playing field as Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, Nadia Comaneci (or I should say Simone Biles now). No matter the age restriction, no matter the fact that the World Cup will always be the greatest achievement in a soccer player’s career, an Olympic gold is something that should be cherished and valued.

Neymar knew how important a gold medal was to Brazil. It was the one achievement in the arena of international soccer that the country had not achieved. Neymar knew that delivering the gold medal at home in one of the most famed soccer stadiums could begin to mend the wounds from that horrific World Cup semi-final loss. A gold medal could bring joy and happiness to a country faced with many problems that there is no point to re-hash. A gold medal could make the angry and critical citizens of the controversial host city temporarily forget about the fact that the money spent on these games could have gone to far better uses. In short, a gold medal could unite the country in patriotism. That is precisely why Neymar said months before Barcelona gave him a one tournament ultimatum that he would be competing in the Olympics. It is because Neymar loves Brazil and why Brazil should love him back even if he never brings home a World Cup.

The Olympic quest for gold started out shaky for Brazil, with Neymar drawing criticism which I personally found ridiculous. What I saw was Neymar giving it his all to create chance after chance to teammates who just could not find the back of the net. Brazilians were crossing out Neymar’s name from their jerseys, which come on, dramatic much people? But then suddenly Brazil started scoring and the results were pretty magical. It was nice to see Gabigol and Gabriel Jesus living up to the hype surrounding them. Suddenly all focus was back on the men’s team with the country uniting in their favor. Brazil marched into the final without ever looking back on those first two scoreless draws.

The final was a Hollywood storyline. Brazil vs. Germany, the re-match. However not quite so. Only two players, one from either team, was on the roster of that infamous match. Neither played in that match. When Neymar scored that stunning free kick, I burst into tears. I know I’m embarrassing, but I couldn’t help it. I was so unbelievably happy for Neymar. For proving his critics wrong, for delivering when his team needed it, for showing that he truly is a star. Then Germany equalized and the match went into extra time and ultimately the dreaded penalty shootout. It was something straight out of a movie. The entire country of Brazil, as well as everyone around the world watching was captivated. I could not imagine the amount of stress and pressure the players of both teams were under. Every single penalty was taken with such accuracy that made me even more nervous. Then Weverton came through with that magical save. I screamed. Weverton’s heroics were unbelievable that now placed the entire weight of Brazil on Neymar’s shoulders. Weverton had done his job with extreme precision. Now it was Neymar’s turn. With this one shot he would become a hero or the most hated person in Brazil.

Did Neymar let any of that pressure show? Absolutely not. With that famous right foot of his he converted that penalty and fell onto his knees in tears. I burst into tears for a second time during that match because Neymar was able to deliver what his country needed most at that moment, a precious gold medal. Neymar delivered on his promise and he created a name for himself in the Brazilian history books. No other famed Brazilian number 10 had been able to deliver what Neymar did and for that he is a hero.

Neymar may be an athlete but feel that I have a personal connection to because he inspires me. To anyone that thinks I’m insane for this, just pause for a moment. There are many people that inspire me just as I am sure there are many people that inspire you. We find inspiration in all sorts of different people and things and that is what helps us grow into better versions of ourselves. For me Neymar inspires me because he never lets go of his playful attitude despite what the critics say. He never stops shining. Neymar inspires me to live my life spiritedly and to never give up. Neymar inspires me to always smile and joke around, but to cry and vent my frustrations when the occasion is right. Neymar’s joyous attitude inspires me and because of that he stirs up all sorts of emotions when he plays. Don’t ever stop being you Neymar. Congratulations to you, the rest of the Brazilian team, and the country of Brazil for your long-awaited gold medal!