IN front of a packed Maracana stadium on Sunday, Paolo Guerrero played 35 minutes of football – which could serve as a warm-up to a career highlight.
But at the same time, it might even bring the curtain down early.
Guerrero is Peru’s captain and star centre forward, the all time top scorer of the national team.
His goals and all round attacking play were vital as Peru made it through to their first World Cup since 1982.
And at the age of 34, it will be the only one in which Guerrero plays. If he plays.
Late last year he tested positive for a metabolite of cocaine.
The quantity was small, and the most logical explanation would seem to be that he drank a tea brewed in a kettle already contaminated by contact with the coca leaf.
FIFA banned him for a year – which would have ruled him out of the World Cup.
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The ban was reduced on appeal to six months – a period which came to an end last week.
Guerrero’s lawyers were pushing for him to be found totally innocent, and appealed to CAS, the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.
They had hoped for a hearing in January or February. Instead they had to wait until last Thursday, the very day when he was cleared to return.
Nevertheless, they went ahead with their appeal – for a very good reason. It was important that Guerrero was able to state his case.
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CAS also heard an appeal from WADA, the World Anti-Doping Association.
On the principle that an athlete is always responsible for substances which enter his body, WADA are pushing for the full two-year ban.
If upheld, this will do more than rule Guerrero out of the World Cup. It will effectively end his career.
The player is already 34, and it is hard to imagine him returning to top level football after such a long period of inactivity.
Now comes the agonising wait for the final verdict.
All Guerrero can do is hope for the best and get himself in top condition before Peru kick off their World Cup campaign against Denmark on June 16th.
And so he hurried back from Switzerland to Brazil, where he plays his club football for Rio de Janeiro giants Flamengo, for Sunday’s game against Internacional.
More than 60,000 were at the Maracana, and the return of Guerrero was one of the main attractions.
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One of the loudest cheers of the day came when he stripped off and came on early in the second half.
The game was goalless when he made his entry. Flamengo ended up winning 2-0, confirming their position as early leaders of the Brazilian Championship.
Guerrero was not involved with the goals. But his all round play looked sharp.
His very first touch was a typically strong and subtle piece of back to goal control, followed by a slick pass to free teenage sensation Vinicius Junior.
Later he hit a free kick that went narrowly wide.
Such moments will hopefully serve the purpose of getting him back into rhythm in time for the World Cup.
Alternatively, if WADA have their way, they might be some of his final touches of quality in front of a big crowd.
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