We knew he was good - but not this good.
We knew, from watching him crushing it for Arsenal, that he could perform under pressure - but not this much. Yes, we lost but this was the night that Bukayo Saka stepped up from top class to world class.
The night that the neutrals who came to see Kylian Mbappe, stayed to see England’s fleet-footed young forward. The night that the biggest clubs in football pencilled Saka into their notebooks, adding a reminder to check out his contract status, first thing Monday morning.
England’s wide forward was sensational. He terrorised the France defence, tracked back to help Kyle Walker stop Mbappe and STILL had enough petrol in the tank to win the penalty from which Harry Kane equalised.
Even when Gareth Southgate’s men fell behind to that strike out of nowhere from Aurelien Tchouameni, the French were still petrified of Saka.
We are talking about the defending champions, remember. The side that have sliced their way through the competition courtesy of the most free-scoring forward at this level since the legendary Pele.
Let’s not kid ourselves, Mbappe wasn’t bad here and you’d be lying if you claimed not to have been afraid when he left Walker for dead midway through the second half.
But had it not been for not been for hapless Brazilian referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio, the France opening goal would not have stood. Among a series of staggering decisions, play was not called back for a foul on - you guessed it - Saka.
On two other occasions around the box, free kicks should have been awarded for fouls on the young man in dangerous territory on the edge of the France box.
When Luke Shaw crossed low from one side of the box to the other with 18 minutes left, the whole of England believed Saka was about to belt us in front against the side bidding to become the first since 1962 to retain the World Cup.
If you were on the edge of your seat, clutched a stranger in a fan park or hugged a fellow drinker out of sheer delirium during this match, chances are you did it because of Saka.
When he spoke pre-match about reading his Bible and taking inspiration from God, those not guided by faith scoffed and rolled their eyes. But Saka is blessed and favoured. Driven by what the neutrals, shall we say, would describe as a Higher Power. He is the poster boy for the new England: fast, dynamic and utterly relatable.
That video of him waiting patiently, as David Beckham chatted with Gareth Southgate before asking the former Manchester United man for a selfie, spoke to his endearing humility, despite his towering potential. Also his proud African upbringing.
Yes, this was yet another heartbreaking chapter in the England book of major tournament trauma. Yes, the country held its collective head in its hands before weeping as one as Harry Kane missed a penalty and England crashed out.
But Saka is among the many reasons for us not to give up hope. He is still only 21. Despite all he has done in an England and Arsenal shirt he is still - in football terms - only a baby.
Defeat here may have left you disconsolate but cheer yourself up by thinking about the player Saka will be in a few years time. He’ll be back. So will England - at Euro 2024.
