Going into the last round of World Cup qualifiers in South America, the permutations concerning who could and could not qualify were plentiful.
With only Brazil safely assured of their place in Russia next summer, Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Paraguay entered the final match-day with it all to gain - or lose.
While the magic of Lionel Messi helped Argentina limp across the line, Uruguay and Colombia both did what was necessary to qualify automatically also - Peru guaranteeing a play-off spot as they attempt to qualify for their first World Cup since 1982.
For Chile and Paraguay, attempts at qualification ended in disarray.
As most of us who were staying up to watch these fixtures would have been paying closest attention to Messi's performance in Ecuador, it subsequently became clear that one man paying close heed to the permutations and how they suited his country was Radamel Falcao.
La imagen de las Eliminatorias es de @PasoaPaso: Falcao convenciendo uno x uno a los peruanos de arreglar el empate en el final del partido. pic.twitter.com/RBNuumoJFd
— Lucas Beltramo (@LucasBeltramo) October 11, 2017
Seen here talking to the opposing Peruvian players, Falcao was assumed to have been informing Colombia's opponents that if things stayed as they are, both countries will be happy.
With Chile losing convincingly to Brazil, their 1-1 scoreline would secure automatic qualification for Colombia and a play-off berth for Peru.
Well, while shades of Paul Kimmage's 'If this is winning, I'll take losing' stance may blur the notion of how appropriate Falcao's proposition was, the former Manchester United and Chelsea loanee has since clarified his stance.
As quoted by the Colombian media, (via The Times), Falcao suggests he was merely relaying information to everyone on the field - how they handled it was their own business:
We knew what was happening in the other matches, we were playing with [the knowledge of] the other results and in that moment [I tried] to transmit that [to Peru].
But I think Peru has been a worthy rival, they fought for 90 minutes just like us. ... We suffered a lot but in the end we did it.
In what is becoming known as the 'Lima Pact', the extent of Falcao's seemingly nefarious motives will remain a mystery for now.
All the same, this isn't the first time such on-field dealings have gone on in an important international tie.
During Italia '90, Holland's Ruud Gullit and Ireland's Mick McCarthy made no bones of the tacit agreement they made when the sides met in the final group stage game.
With the score at 1-1, both Ireland and Holland were aware that they had what they needed to qualify for the last 16 - and that is exactly what happened.
