Neymar could end Brazil’s Olympic soccer drought on home soil

The Brazil men’s soccer team has five World Cup championships, eight Copa America first-place finishes and four Confederations Cup titles.

But in a dozen Olympic Games appearances, Brazil has yet to take home the gold. Neymar, the country’s 24-year-old star forward, looks to change that this year on home turf.

Neymar competed in the 2012 Olympic Games, scoring three goals and dishing out three assists as Brazil breezed through its first five matches before falling in the gold medal match 2-1 to Mexico.

Brazil opens group play in the 16-team field at 3 p.m. Thursday against South Africa on the eve of the Opening Ceremonies. Brazil’s group also includes Iraq and Denmark.

This story was originally published August 3, 2016 at 8:05 PM with the headline "Neymar could end Brazil’s Olympic soccer drought on home soil."