The Last Save of Moacyr Barbosa - Significance of The Game in Culture

Significance of The Game in Culture

The book details the soccer culture of Brazil often unforgiving of men it puts on a pedestal, and the absolute shock to the country and its people at the loss of the game.

"It continues being the most famous goal in the history of Brazilian football...because none other transcended its status as a sporting fact...converting itself into a historic moment in the life of a nation."
The goal and the gunshot that killed Kennedy both have 'the same drama...the same movement, rhythm...the same precision of an inexorable trajectory...'They even share clouds of dust - one from a gun, one from Gigghia's left foot."

The 1988 movie "Barbosa" anticipates some of the themes of the book, and in 2007, Brazil's first visibly black goal keeper since Barbosa, Dida, asked the country to forgive the old man. Dida notes that Barbosa was voted the Number One keeper of the 1950 Cup, a testimony to his outstanding skills. "He did a lot for the Brazilian team but then he was crucified after the match. That was terrible," said Dida. "The fact that he was the number 1 shows he did a lot for Brazilian football. It is important to point out the good things he did."

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