Neymar named Brazil's full-time captain

Rio de Janeiro: Brazilian national football team head coach Tite has named Paris Saint-Germain star forward Neymar Jr. as his squad's full-time captain ahead of Friday night's friendly against the United States in New Jersey.

Neymar had previously served as Brazil's captain at the 2016 Rio Olympics but relinquished that responsibility after the squad won the goal medal, reports Efe news.

Over the past two years, more than a dozen players have worn the captain's armband, with Thiago Silva, Miranda and Marcelo sharing that duty during the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

"It's a great honor to be named captain, and I'll do everything to fulfill that duty and help the team win," Neymar said, adding that he gave up that responsibility two years ago due to the tremendous pressure he was under at the time.

"It's difficult for someone else to know all that I went through, not only during the (Olympic) Games but all these years," he said. IANS