THINGS RARELY END WELL FOR ANY OF THE GREATS. ENJOY THE QUARTERS, LEO! ENJOY THE QUARTERS, RON!
It doesn’t matter how big a star you are: the World Cup doesn’t really do fairytale endings. Take Zinedine Zidane, the embodiment of France 98, sticking the nut on Marco Materazzi in 2006 and traipsing off down the tunnel in disgrace, his chances of a second title following in lockstep. Garrincha’s reward for sprinkling stardust at the 1958 and 1962 tournaments was to be kicked all over the shop in 1966, his last international a 3-1 defeat to Hungary, the only game for the Seleção he ever lost. Or how about Alcides Ghiggia, Uruguay’s matchwinner of 1950’s legendary Maracanazo, ending his World Cup career in 1957 by getting sent off while representing Italy in a 2-1 qualifying defeat to Northern Ireland. Italy didn’t make it through to the finals; that sort of news used to be a big shock back then.
