Cuauhtemoc Blanco got a surprise start on Wednesday night, playing what will probably be his last match in a Mexico shirt. His start was announced a couple of days ago, but most assumed that he'd just get a very short run-out as a tribute before Miguel Herrera got on with his World Cup preparation.
Instead, Blanco got 38 minutes. And the 41-year-old was arguably El Tri's best player in the time that he was on the pitch, even if he could barely run. The ovation he got at Estadio Azteca was well-earned.
This was a tribute match, so it's unlikely we'll see Blanco play for his national team again. But on the evidence of this performance, he's still got it. It was pretty great to watch a World Cup team rely entirely on the skill and creativity of a 41-year-old.