Last-eight ache: Brazil’s players are a dejected lot as Uruguay celebrate their penalty shootout win in the Copa America quarter-final match in Las Vegas on July 6. — AP
IT feels like an end of an era. Or the passing of age.
As some of the best players around the world did battle in Germany and the United States, there was a sense of nostalgia and of loss.
Euro 2024 and the Copa America have laid bare two stark realities.
The golden Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo era is over. After nearly two decades of domination which saw the two men winning an astounding 13 Ballon d’Ors between them, the sparkle has dimmed.
The two, now closer to 40 than 30, are far from the geniuses they used to be, although no one can fault them for it. They have delighted millions for years and the time has come to say goodbye, whether they like it or not.
But there is sadder news. The age of Brazil, world football’s powerhouse, looks to be over too.
The production line of tantalising talent, which probably started even before a certain Edson Arantes do Nascimento - later to be known as “The King” Pele - broke onto the scene, has ground to a halt.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
What a comedown it has been for the great footballing nation, who have appeared in every one of the 22 World Cups, and won five times, besides winning the South American championship nine times.
Beside Pele and names like Didi, Alemao Nilton Santos and Rivelino, it was a nation that also produced “Little Bird” Garrincha, Zico, Socrates, “the Phenomenon” Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Romario, Ronaldinho and Neymar, just to name a handful.
This year, they boasted Vinicius Jr, the Real Madrid star who has been tipped for the Ballon D’Or. After his Copa show, he could well drop a few rungs in the list of fancied winners.
And what of Endrick, the boy who had been touted as the next big thing out of Brazil? He was a disappointment, being completely overshadowed by the kids at the Euros like Lamine Yamal, Jamal Musiala, Nico Williams and Arda Guler.
Endrick completed only one pass in Brazil’s match against Uruguay, which saw the Uruguayans qualify for the semi-finals after a shootout.
Neither Vinicius nor Endrick is the kind of player who lights up a match, in the vein of Ronaldo or Ronaldinho.
With just one real win in the US, Brazil, always the “other” favourite of all neutral football fans, have lost their magic.
But all good things come to an end, and everyone grows old. So many players are also on their way out. Argentina’s Angel di Maria is calling it quits after the Copa America final. He may join his buddy Messi at LA Miami.
Germany’s Tony Kroos has said goodbye. It’s over and out for him. His teammate Thomas Muller could well be a thing of the past, too. The kids were striding past him like he was not even there. Such a shame for such a great talent.
France’s Olivier Giroud has also called it quits, and is heading to Los Angeles for a less hectic future. Croatian Luca Modric’s international future is also over, although he will have one more year of top-level football with Real Madrid.
Of course, there is Portugal’s Pepe, at 41 well past his bestial best. His teammate Ronaldo was even worse off.
He was forlorn and hapless at Euro 2024. He wanted to be the oldest goalscorer at the Euros but failed though he did convert two penalties in shootouts. However, he missed the one penalty that would have given him that coveted record.
Ronaldo still holds out hope that he can redeem himself at the next World Cup. The best advice he can get is: Don’t.
He is better off playing an advisory role for his country. It would be better for Portugal too.
Ronaldo’s great rival Lionel Messi has also been firing blanks at Copa America, until he diverted an already goal-bound shot past the Canadian goalkeeper in the semi-final.
But he’s a little more pragmatic. Although younger than Ronaldo, he has already made it clear he won’t be at the next World Cup. But you never know, the fans and coach may still coax him return.
Same bit of advice to him. “Don’t”.
Going out as a World Cup holder, and maybe Copa America champion, is great. Going out in disgrace at the next Worlds is not.
There’s Luis Suarez too. Messi’s Uruguayan teammate at Inter Miami has been spending much of the last few weeks on the bench. Up until the semi-final match against Brazil, he had only eight minutes of action at Copa America.
Yes, eight. He probably had almost as many minutes in the brawl with Colombian fans after his team’s semi-final loss. But he has happily handed over the reins over to his successor Darwin Nunez and is just enjoying the game, whenever he gets to play.
There are some great young stars coming through the ranks, but for now it feels like the world of football is a little less glamorous with these stars – and Brazil – down and out.
