Neymar set to quit as Brazil captain after leading hosts to gold medal at Rio Olympics

Neymar plans to step down as Brazil captain after scoring the winning penalty in their Olympic triumph over Germany in Rio. The Barcelona star has revealed he will relinquish the responsibility of the captaincy, despite leading an under-23 side to the gold medal.

Neymar, 24, scored the winning penalty in the shootout, after scoring Brazil's only goal during normal time in the Maracana. But in the aftermath of the action-packed match, the skillful attacker revealed his intention to quit the captaincy.

"Today I have become a champion, and I give up the captain's armband," the Barcelona forward told SporTV. "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."

Neymar was honoured to lead the Olympic hosts to gold medal glory against a talented German side. However, he refused to put the accolade above winning the Confederations Cup with Brazil and the Champions League with Barcelona.

"I do not like to put one title above the other - every competition I contest and win is important," said Neymar, who joined Barcelona in 2013. "Of course, it had great importance to Brazil and thank God we did it -- after a lot of struggling, work and concentration."

He did, however, admit that winning the gold medal was the realisation of a long-held ambition. "I can't begin to describe them [my feelings]," he said. "I have fulfilled my dream, and to have fulfilled it in my home country makes me very proud."