The night belonged to Julian Alvarez and his stunning extra-time rocket.
But in the corridors of Kansas City Stadium, after Argentina had beaten Switzerland 3-1 to book a World Cup semi-final against England, a different conversation was taking place.
It was one that had nothing to do with the match just played, and everything to do with the future of one of the tournament’s most captivating young players.
The 2026 World Cup has been Gilberto Mora’s coming-out party.
The 17-year-old Mexican attacking midfielder who was born on October 13, 2008, and the youngest player in the entire tournament, arrived at the competition as a promising but largely unknown quantity outside of Liga MX circles.
He is leaving it as one of the most talked-about teenagers in global football.
Four appearances for Mexico, including a starting role against England in the Round of 16, produced a level of composure and technical quality that had European recruitment departments scrambling.
Liverpool are among those watching most closely.
Report have placed the Reds at the forefront of the race for the Club Tijuana midfielder, with Andoni Iraola’s recruitment team reportedly making exploratory contact to establish the conditions needed for a potential deal.
The competition is formidable as Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Chelsea have all been monitoring the teenager, but Liverpool’s interest is understood to be serious and structured.
Which made the question put to one of Liverpool’s own World Cup participants after the Switzerland game all the more intriguing.
Alejandro Orvañanos of Claro Sports asked Alexis Mac Allister directly about his club’s reported interest in Mora.
The Liverpool midfielder, who had just scored Argentina’s opener with a powerful header in the tenth minute, chose his words carefully, but what he said carried considerable weight.
“Honestly, I didn’t see anything about it,” Mac Allister told Claro Sports.
“When these things happen, you’re always careful what you say, out of respect for the player and the club he belongs to.”
“But if he’s being linked with Liverpool, he’ll surely be a great player, and there’s a reason they’re mentioning him.”
Coming from a player at the club, it is as close to a endorsement as the transfer world tends to produce at this stage.
Mora’s agent Rafaela Pimenta has already signalled that any move will not come cheap, stating publicly, “I will do everything in my power to sell Gilberto Mora for a very high price — because if he’s expensive, he’ll be highly respected.”
His domestic numbers back the ambition.
‘Ranking in the top 95% for chances created and top 94% for offensive touches among comparable Liga MX forwards, Mora’s underlying data matches what the eye test has been saying throughout this tournament.
Mac Allister has spoken.
Now Liverpool must decide whether to act.