Neymar finally arrived at the 2018 World Cup and inspired Brazil's victory over Mexico as they progressed to the quarter-finals on Monday.
The PSG man tapped in the game's opening goal and then set up a late second to hand his country the win, while Juan Carlos Osorio's side put up little resistance.
Neymar made the difference with two moments of genius
However, it was Mexico who started the brighter of the two teams. El Tri's wingers Hirving Lozano and Carlos Vela gave Brazil's full-backs plenty of trouble within the first 20 minutes, but ultimately couldn't force a breakthrough.
In the latter stages of the first half, La Selecao began to take over. Gabriel Jesus and Neymar both fired off shots from wide left angles, both of which were parried away by goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
Ochoa kept Neymar at bay in the opening 45 minutes
At the start of the second period, Brazil picked up where they left off. This time it was Philippe Coutinho who tested Ochoa, again forced to push a shot away from danger.
It was all a sign of things to come.
With 51 minutes played, Neymar drove towards the box with the ball at his feet and backheeled a layoff to Willian. The South American talisman continued his run and was there to pick up the Chelsea man's low cross from the left, tapping home from inside the six-yard area.
The breakthrough came not long into the second half
In the ten minutes that followed, Paulinho and Willian both nearly put Brazil two up, but Guillermo Ochoa came to his country's rescue twice more.
With 20 minutes remaining, Miguel Layun escaped a VAR check for what appeared to be a stamp on Neymar.
This was about as much fight as the Mexicans showed in the second half, succumbing to defeat without much resistance whatsoever.
Roberto Firmino then added a late second for Brazil with just two minutes remaining.
The Liverpool man tapped in after being handed the goal on a plate by Neymar.
Liverpool's forward sealed victory for Brazil
LINE-UPS
Brazil XI: Alisson, Fagner, Thiago Silva, Miranda, Filipe Luis, Paulinho, Casemiro, Willian, Coutinho, Neymar, Gabriel Jesus.
Mexico XI: Ochoa, Alvarez, Ayala, Salcedo, Gallardo, Herrera, Marquez, Guardado, Vela, Hernandez, Lozano.
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