Goodbye, Cavani

A memorable moment for the semi-professional team at the FIFA Club World Cup. In the early hours of June 25th, Auckland drew 1-1 with Boca Juniors in the final match of Group C, FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.

Edinson Cavani once dreamed of ending his career on a stage worthy of him – the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™. A dignified conclusion, in the colors of Boca Juniors, where he could further solidify his legacy after brilliant years at Napoli, PSG, and the Uruguayan national team.

But all that remained was… 54 quiet minutes amidst the Nashville thunderstorm. An unfinished game. An unfulfilled dream. And a 1-1 draw. A result that left Boca Juniors exiting the tournament in disappointment.

Due to injury, Cavani was unable to play in the first two matches. The game against Auckland City became his only opportunity – and also his final appearance in the tournament.

Deployed as a central striker by coach Miguel Angel Russo, Cavani was the hope of salvaging Boca's honor. But instead of exploding with energy, Cavani appeared lost amidst a semi-professional defense from New Zealand – players who worked during the day and played football at night.

Boca had no one to properly deliver the ball to Cavani. He moved constantly, trying to create space, and unleashed a beautiful but inaccurate overhead kick. Another control in the penalty area was also thwarted by an Auckland defender. Boca's attacking system was ineffective, and Cavani was like a hunter in the desert – knowing where the prey was, but never reaching it.

As the match entered its 54th minute, a sudden storm struck. Heavy rain and lightning disrupted everything. While the spectators waited for the game to resume, the result from another match was confirmed: Benfica beat Bayern Munich 1-0, meaning Boca Juniors were officially eliminated. A cruel outcome decided not by a single shot, but by… the weather and the result from elsewhere.

In that context, Russo didn't want to take any risks. Cavani – at 38, his body no longer a weapon – was substituted before the game resumed. No applause, no cheers. He left the field as if he had never been there. A hero stepped into the spotlight – only to return in silence.

Cavani was helpless against Auckland City's defense.

After the match, Cavani maintained his usual composure. He shared: “A draw isn’t a bad result. They defended extremely tightly – at times there were up to 10 players inside the 16.5-meter box. We tried to press, but we couldn’t break through their defense.”

He also didn't forget to emphasize the discipline and fighting spirit of Auckland City – a semi-professional team that plays as if they are true warriors. “They don’t give up. They defend as if it’s the last game of their lives,” Cavani said.

And then the former PSG star mentioned the weather factor: thunderstorms, temperatures reaching 35.5°C, the match being interrupted for nearly 50 minutes - all of which depleted physical strength and created suffocating mental tension.

All that remained after that Nashville night was a name on the starting lineup, a missed overhead kick, and a distant gaze as he left the pitch in the storm. For Cavani, it wasn't just a farewell to a tournament. It could be a farewell to the top stage.

No flares, no dazzling stands. Just rain, thunder, and a prolonged silence in the career of a striker once called "the great predator."