Brazil, one of the all-time favorites to win the World Cup, brought the “Jogo Bonito” back at Stadium 974 in Doha last Monday when they danced past Korea Republic 4-1 to set their quarter-final date with current runners-up Croatia.
In the late 1970s, Pele - who is one of the forerunners to make football a global phenomenon - popularized the Portuguese phrase “Joga Bonito” which means “The Beautiful Game”.
And it couldn't be any better fit for Tite's men to bear a resemblance to that version of Brazilian football – played by Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos notably in 2000s – when their football legend Pele needed prayers for his recovery.
Pele has been hospitalized for a week taking treatments for colon cancer.
Neymar and Co paid rich tribute to the three-time World Cup winner not only by holding a banner at the end of the game, but also with some fascinating play, especially in the first half to score four past hapless Koreans.
Despite claiming the Copa America three time since their last World Cup win in 2002, their playing style was criticized and it was said the “Jogo Bonito” is somewhat missing from their game lately.
Neymar, who is having a wonderful time in national colors, is holding the torch high for their predecessors with his talent and individual brilliance.
But “Jogo Bonito” is all about a team game, requiring top quality players playing in rhythm in a great understanding showed by Pele, Garrincha, Rivelinho and Jairzinho in the 1950s and 60s.
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The baton was then passed to next generation of players in the form of Zico, Socrates, Falcao and Junior.
Brazil started the game against Korea strongly with Vinicius Jr opening the scoring in the seventh minute with a close range finish when Raphinha passed him the ball with a superb build up.
In no time, Neymar after returning from injury, converted a from the spot dodging the South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu with a cheeky penalty after Richarlison was fouled.
The five-time World Cup winners were simply too good for their Asian counterparts who recorded the best ever World Cup performance among the continental teams since Korea Republic reached the semi-finals in 2002.
And then, at the half hour mark, came the most beautiful moment.
Richarlison with some freestyle-look juggling controlled the ball, sent to Marquinhos at the edge of the box and ran inside beyond South Korean defence.
Thiago Silva then received the ball from Marquinhos at the penalty arc and found Richarlison's run who set himself up with a soft touch before finishing it into the bottom corner for his third World Cup goal.
Having put the ball in the back of the net, the Tottenham Hotspur forward rushed over to the technical zone where Brazil substitutes were celebrating along with head coach Tite.
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While the stadium was jumping in samba rhythm, the 61-year old Tite couldn't help himself but join the group to create a circle and dance together.
We have seen so many brilliant individual goals already in the tournament, including the bicycle kick from Richarlison himself.
But this one - the beautiful team goal against the Taeguk Warriors– hinted Brazil with this squad have the potential to offer some more of it.
The Selecao have the possibility of meeting eternal rivals Argentina in the semi-finals if both sides can get past Croatia and the Netherlands in the quarterfinals respectively.
This exciting brand of football will surely make fans across the globe pray and hope that the once-in-a-generation World Cup showdown between Neymar and Lionel Messi does take place after all.
Is it too early to get excited?
Let's see what this exhilarating World Cup edition in Qatar has to say.