It was a picture that left a thousand words unsaid. Had Casemiro, smiling widely with both hands on the trophy, been covered in Jude Bellingham’s honesty cloak, the post-match interview may have seen the Brazil midfielder explain why he did not deserve the gong.
He was neither the first nor last peculiar selection for the ‘Superior Player of the Match’ at this World Cup 2026 but the decision to place him on a pedestal after Monday’s anxious, unconvincing win against ****** an was certainly the oddest.
Only Lucas Paqueta’s hamstring twinge may have saved Casemiro from being hooked at the interval for the second time in this tournament following a 45-minute spell in which he allowed Kaishu Sano to put ****** an in front, collided with Paqueta and Matheus Cunha - yes, his teammates - in farcical fashion, and puffed around uncomfortably as a sad caricature of his former self.
That he headed in the equaliser was no doubt redemptive but what preceded it was a catalogue of errors to make pub players blush; although Casemiro still appeared delighted when talking about the importance of mindset and spirit as he grasped the award.
Other bewildering nominations have followed. Cristiano Ronaldo was hailed for his role in Portugal’s nerve-shredding victory against Croatia in Toronto despite his only registered touch in the box being the penalty to equalise before he was substituted.