Neymar kicks his way into Brazil’s history books…

The 24-year-old Brazilian soccer star helped lead Brazil’s Olympic soccer team to victory against Germany in the gold medal match at the 2016 Rio Games.

Neymar, who had to settle for a silver at the 2012 London Games after losing to Mexico in the gold medal match, scored the winning goal in a dramatic shootout that ended with a score of 5-4, following a 1-1 draw in regulation.

All around him, 70,000 Brazilians inside the vast Maracana Stadium chanted his name, expecting — no, demanding — their nation’s biggest soccer star deliver a historic success at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Neymar paused, gathering his thoughts as he stuttered towards the ball, almost grinding to a halt before stroking his penalty kick high to the left of Germany’s goalkeeper Timo Horn.

Neymar also scored in the 27th minute as Brazil took a 1-0 lead.

Max Meyer scored the equalizer for Germany in the 59th minute.

For Brazil, this was a landmark victory over a country that had inflicted a humiliating 7-1 defeat on it two years ago, in the semifinal of its own World Cup.

It’s the first Olympic victory for Brazilian footballers in a country obsessed with the game.

“This is one of the best things that have happened in my life,” the Barcelona forward said. “That’s it.”