Brazil's players threw their support behind Neymar after the superstar No. 10 broke down in tears following his team's tense 2-0 win over Costa Rica on Friday.

His teammates said few people understood how big of a battle Neymar endured to return from a three-and-a-half month injury layoff in time for Brazil's first match at the World Cup, a 1-1 draw with Switzerland.

Neymar netted the second goal against Costa Rica after Philippe Coutinho had broken the deadlock at the start of injury time in St. Petersburg, ending the Central American team's hopes of reaching the last 16.

The Paris Saint-Germain attacker was also at the center of major controversy during the match, when a penalty he won was rescinded after consultation with the Video Assistant Referee, with the implication being that he had dived.

But Neymar's coach and teammates lauded him for being able to manage the stress and weight of expectation that comes with being the Selecao's linchpin.

"He was already crying on the pitch (after the match) and I told him to let it out as it's a heavy weight he is carrying," said captain Thiago Silva, a teammate of Neymar's at PSG, who himself was the target of criticism at the 2014 World Cup when he tearfully opted out of a pivotal penalty shootout.

"It's not easy for a player to spend three months without playing, people don't understand that, and they keep criticizing him. He has a big personality. Not many people would accept the responsibility he has."

Brazil coach Tite said that Neymar's perceived shortcomings do not lie solely at the player's feet.

"His individuality shows up if the whole group plays well, so you can't put the whole responsibility on the shoulders of one player," he said. "We all have to take on (the load) so that his individuality can shine."

"He's human. He needs some time to recapture his high standard. But before he does, there is a team that has to be strong and not dependent on him."

Neymar, who was forced out of the 2014 World Cup after being injured by Colombia's Juan Zuniga, had a target painted on his back by the Swiss -- OPTA said he was fouled 10 times during the match, the most since England's Alan Shearer was hit 11 times by Tunisia at the 1998 tournament -- and things were not much different against Costa Rica.

Oscar Ramirez, the Costa Rican coach, said, "We tried to play him fairly, and I think we did it well...We know that Neymar had problems with an injury, but we never tried to hurt him."

Dealing with physical blows from opponents, and psychological stress from Brazil's demanding fans and media, Neymar and Co. can sometimes struggle, said Silva.

The team, and Neymar in particular, respond in the only way they can -- by training and playing hard, he said.

But for Coutinho, a player who benefits perhaps more than any other when Neymar is firing, it is his positivity that has proved the biggest addition since his return.

"He had a difficult injury and went through a tough patch," Coutinho, Brazil's top-scorer so far in Russia with two goals said. "His joy at being on the pitch is contagious and everybody is happy to have him back and scoring."

And if the other World Cup challengers thought the tears were a sign that things might continue to be amiss for Neymar, Tite had bad news: "He's going to make it, he's going reach top form. You will see."