How was Lionel Messi's journey to the final of the FIFA World Cup?

Neymar was injured and Brazil’s frontline was lacking teeth. Casemiro, officially identified as a defensive midfielder, would connect a match-winner with barely 7 minutes left to take his team into the last 16.

It was also his hat-doff to his country’s unique football culture. In his nation of record-breaking goal-scorers, everyone on the field fancies their chance to beat the goalkeeper and, more importantly, are equipped to beat the defense – even those who ply their trade as a defender.

It’s this urge to find the net that made Casemiro wander to the far end of the field and once there, he wasn’t like fish outside water. Before describing the breath-taking goal, the back story about why Brazilians are football’s amphibians – biologically blessed to be at home anywhere on the field.

It’s at these amateur games that a young talented dribbler needs to get the better of a burly pub-bouncer, a local drunk or a has-been pro to get the ball between a make-do goal – two bricks kept a few meters apart. It’s here they learn to utilise tiny spaces and the skill to kick the ball with every part inch of their feet.

Toe poke, back heel, giving the ball a brush of the foot-fingers, curving the outside of boot – the plain vanilla kick with the inside of the foot is way too boring for them.

Casemiro, who grew up in a difficult neighbourhood, awakened the inner street-baller in him. He showed the Brazilian DNA that gives him an attacking instinct. With no urgency, he ambled into the penalty box with five defenders in front of him.

Two of them went towards the left-flank to double team the dangerous Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior. Casemiro got space and walked further ahead. His back was still towards the goal, as he watched Vinicius cut in.

By the time the ball reached him, he had taken a quick 180 degree turn. Facing the goal now, he unleashed a first-time drive with the outside of his foot.

The Swiss goal-keeper remained glued in his stance. That evening at the favela, many young dribblers would have attempted the Casemiro banana kick with the outside of their bare feet.

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