Paolo and Jefferson: the end of an era

There was one last, remote, brief hope. May the rest have been miraculous for Jefferson and that summer has been the doctor of Paul. But no: his health is not optimal. They have not yet been discharged. Neither Farfán nor Guerrero are in Ricardo Gareca’s last call for Qatar 2022, they will not play the decisive matches against Uruguay and Paraguay at the end of March and although the feeling is sadness, a lump in the throat, this is like old age: at some point it was going to happen.

Paolo and Jefferson are the national team’s historic scorers —1 and 2—, they led Ricardo Gareca’s South American revolution with Peru —a World Cup, a Copa América final— and most importantly, they shortened the distance with the world, that world that came to our televisions in the format of a Brazilian idol —Ronaldinho— or a crack albiceleste —Messi— and that, thanks to the 9 and 10 on their backs, they nationalized from affection. We weren’t fans of the national team because they always lost, because there was no chemistry and because their foreign figures —whoever they are, I won’t put last names— left their prestige, their weapons and their goals in Europe. They do not. When Peru needed a goal, let’s say, to tie Colombia and go to the playoffs, Paolo appeared. And when it took a goal to go to Russia, he shot New Zealand Jefferson.

His memory is national, not individual. For that, gratitude is priceless.

If Peru reaches the playoffs and etc. and then they quote them, it’s the same mystery. Is futurism. Today I want to say that his stage with the red and white was glorious, that they leave the highest fence —at the height of being irreplaceable— and that the books already write their names at the height of Cubillas or Chumpitaz, our totems. They may not be in the locker room against Uruguay at the Centenario, but they are already omnipresent.

Paolo played just 3 games as a starter in these Qualifiers, out of a total of 5. Jefferson only 1, out of 7.