Brazil overcame their deep frustration at not making the men's Olympic football final by putting away Belgium 3-0 to take the bronze medal consolation prize at Shanghai Stadium.
Goals to Diego and Jo in the first half, and a second to Jo on full-time, settled the outcome. It was the second time they had met in these Olympics, after Brazil narrowly won their opening pool match 1-0.
Although demoralised by their 0-3 semi-final loss to Argentina, they had inspirational Ronaldinho to re-ignite their motivation with a masterful display in the midfield.
The AC Milan star created numerous opportunities through the first half starting with a header that just sailed over the bar in the opening minutes.
A free kick by Ronaldinho then found Alex Silva unmarked to the right of the goal, but his header went wide. Belgium were able to absorb the pressure for the first quarter of the game, before Diego found the net to open the scoring.
A build up down the right flank by Jo had Belgium scrambling at the back.
In a quick one-two, Jo fed Rafinha whose cross to the goal mouth was picked by Diego with a first touch strike that Bailly had no chance of getting to.
A desperate Belgium fought to level the score but Brazil came back to close out the half with a late goal by Jo.
Brazil rarely troubled Bailly in the second half until time was up and a solo effort by Jo saw him take the ball just inside the Belgium and weave his way into the clear to hammer home Brazil's third goal.
The bronze medals adds to Brazil's collection of two silvers (1984, 1988) and another bronze at Atlanta in 1996, but again the one prize they want, an Olympic gold medal, has eluded the five times world champion.
Belgium at least have the history books to show they won the Olympic final at the 1920 Antwerp Games.