Brazil superstar Neymar found himself unable to take to the pitch against Switzerland and, yet, still managed to have the final say after watching Manchester United player Casemiro step up and emulate his talismanic presence.
It has been some time since the Selecao added that unprecedented fifth star to their iconic badge and they remain a fanciful pick to make it six at the Qatar showcase. For that to happen, though, Neymar may well need to be back fit and firing in his own bid to emulate World Cup winners such as Pele, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
But for United supporters watching these finals unfold, the man they are most keeping an eye on in yellow, Casemiro, will be just as important to keep an eye on.
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Renowned for his defensive capabilities, it cost United an initial £60million to land him from Real Madrid during the summer window - but even his glittering CV wasn't enough to silence those lingering doubters.
Former United defender Gary Neville was one of those doubters and was in no mood to mince his words when the Old Trafford club confirmed their agreement to sign Casemiro - after failed pursuits for Barcelona playmaker Frenkie de Jong and Adrien Rabiot - in the summer.
"Every other club is really precise. You don't see them bouncing around like a pinball in the transfer market," the former United right-back said. "[He has signed] a phenomenal contract that's going to cost the club £160m. There's a large element of desperation with the signing because a five-year contract for a 30-year-old should not happen."
Speaking at the time, Neville did tip Casemiro to shine for the next one or two seasons, but his comments currently look like they may be wide of the mark.
And now Casemiro's Brazil teammate Neymar has stuck his two pence in to prove Gary Neville and others wrong about the midfielder.
Following the midfielder's wondergoal for his national team against Switzerland at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, Neymar tweeted: "Casemiro has been the best midfielder in the world for a long time."
Casemiro had only scored five times internationally before a crisp strike at Stadium 974 on Monday night. It might not have been part of the job description - for club or country - but in doing so he underlined his sky-high status as far as Neymar is concerned as well as proving his capacity to go above and beyond the requirements of his day job.
It may not be a complete surprise to United after his match-saving goal against Chelsea and decisive assist to set Cristiano Ronaldo on his way to what would be a final winner in that famous red number 7 shirt against Everton, but Casemiro is showing he is more than just a defensive midfielder.
He's proving to be a genuine goal threat, and those efforts so far this season have come at key moments for his side, whether that's for club or country.
While Casemiro was the player United signed to address long-standing concerns at the base of their midfield, as that man Neymar claims, he remains much, much more than what they had initially set out for. If he keeps this up, he'll become an asset for Manchester United for years to come.
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