A lot of hearts were broken this week.
Where do you even begin? Neymar Jr., one of the greatest players in the history of the game, was sent home and will retire without ever winning a World Cup after Brazil fell to the towering Norwegian force of Erling Haaland.
Cristiano Ronaldo, for millions, perhaps billions, the greatest of all time, was eliminated in the cruelest possible fashion, with Portugal falling to a high-quality Spanish side in the 90th minute. He too, will never lift the most prized trophy in modern sports. Then came Mexico. A thrilling team that, in almost any other tournament, looked capable of reaching at least the quarterfinals, lost inside its magical fortress, the Azteca Stadium, to a dangerous England side. More than 120 million Mexicans were left heartbroken. Brazil has more than 200 million people who for them football is a religion. Meantime, Ronaldo has the biggest global following of any athlete, with even Messi fans feeling he deserved a chance at a trophy run. By this point, half the planet had suffered some form of minor depression. But that was only the start.
On Monday night, the U.S, a mation of roughly 350 million, who finally felt its their time to shine on the global stage were eliminated in an embarrassing fashion by Belgium. Another enormous audience had been dealt in the most unforgiving way possible with the truth - that their dream is over.
One after another, teams that gave the tournament color, emotion and narrative have been removed. And now, almost unbelievably, the one result that could make this Round of 16 feel even more bitter would be Messi's Argentina losing to Egypt on Tuesday. Not some completely imaginary scenario.
The World Cup begins with possibility. Forty-eight nations arrive carrying dreams. Every fan can imagine a miracle. Then the knockout rounds begin. And football starts taking things away. Hundreds of millions will no longer watch with the same intensity.
The quarterfinal picture is now almost complete, and a familiar pattern is emerging. Five European teams have reached the last eight, alongside one African nation. The tournament has produced good football.
France has looked clinical and almost frighteningly complete. Spain has quality. England is dangerous. Belgium has just reminded everyone that pedigree and efficiency still matter.
There are still great stories left. There is France, ruthless and composed. There is Messi, still carrying the possibility of one final immortal chapter. There are African hopes still alive. There are underdogs, new heroes and perhaps surprises still awaiting.
But something has changed. We have reached the heartbreak stage. The tournament is approaching the quarterfinals, the true money time, when the margins become smaller, the pressure becomes unbearable and every mistake can end generations of hope. This week, the World Cup reminded us of something we already knew but never really want to accept. The beautiful game is beautiful precisely because we care so much. And because we care so much, it hurts so much.
