The Last Save of Moacyr Barbosa (Italian: L'ultima parata di Moacyr Barbosa) is a book by Darwin Pastorin, describing the life and times of the Brazilian goalkeeper of the 1950 World Cup, Moacyr Barbosa. Barbosa failed to stop a shot by Uruguay in the Final, and was treated as a pariah in many parts of Brazil for the rest of his life.

Thematic treatment

The book is divided into five themes:

Media treatment

The Last Save describes much of the disbelief felt by many Brazilians at the loss of the game. In one radio announcement for example:

Significance of the game in culture

The book details the soccer culture of Brazil often unforgiving of men it puts on a pedestal, and the absolute shock to the country and its people at the loss of the game. The 1988 movie Barbosa anticipates some of the themes of the book, and in 2006, prior to the 2006 World Cup, Brazil's first visibly black goalkeeper since Barbosa, Dida, asked the country to forgive the old man. Dida notes that Barbosa was voted the Number One keeper of the 1950 Cup, a testimony to his outstanding skills. "He did a lot for the Brazilian team but then he was crucified after the match. That was terrible," said Dida. "The fact that he was the number 1 shows he did a lot for Brazilian football. It is important to point out the good things he did."

Scapegoats and sacrifices

The religious imagery of the scapegoat is also considered. Although Barbosa was to continue playing soccer, his days on the national team were over, and his name reviled. For the rest of his life, he was often seen as the man who choked - forever, The Unforgiven. In quasi-religious terms, the ancient role of scapegoat was to be sacrificed, to restore balance to the ruptured community. Barbosa fit the bill, and his dark skin capped the comparison, a stark reminder of the sin of losing. Barbosa was one of Brazil's few visibly black goalkeepers and Brazil was not to have another for 50 years. In Uruguayan author Eduardo Galeano's 1999 book, Soccer in Sun and Shadow, Barbosa is quoted as saying "even a criminal when he has served his time, and paid his debt, is forgiven. But I have never been forgiven.."