First, the goal. It's not the most beautiful ever but in its execution, it is wonderful. The speed, the precision, the balance, the awareness of where the goal is and where the opponents are and the movement were perfect and breathtaking, especially at that level and especially in the biggest game of the season so far in France. It was a great piece of skill with his right foot to beat Giannelli Imbula and then a superb left-footed strike to put the ball under the crossbar and out of reach of Steve Mandanda.
It was the 66th minute of Lyon vs. Marseille, fourth vs. first in Ligue 1, at the Stade Gerland on Sunday evening. It was the only goal of the match and it stopped Marseille's run of eight consecutive league victories -- a feat Lyon achieved in 1998.
Now, the goal scorer. Hubert Fournier, the Lyon manager, put it perfectly after the game. "Often, we say that big players win you big games. It was the case tonight," he said. And he's right. Lyon have talented youngsters -- Jordan Ferri, Clinton N'Jie, Nabil Fekir, Corentin Tolisso -- they have a very good striker in Alexandre Lacazette and they have solid internationals in the likes of Maxime Gonalons, Milan Bisevac and Christophe Jallet. But they have one big player, one big star: Yoann Gourcuff.
He showed it again on Sunday evening. Not only with his goal, but with his overall performance. His position at the top of a diamond midfield behind two strikers is the perfect one for him. He can dictate the game, its pace, its movement. He can be decisive, too. His set pieces were dangerous as well. The problem is performances like these are all too rare.
This is the story of Gourcuff's career. Without a doubt, the 28-year-old is the most talented player of his generation in France. A real No. 10, the heir to the throne of Zinedine Zidane, a player who could lead club and country to the summit. So far, though, it hasn't happened. Right now, it's a case of the "career he should have had."
Gourcuff was destined for greatness. His dad, Christian, is one of the best managers French football has ever known. His upbringing was ideal, complete with a good education -- passing his Baccalaureat -- and strong values. He respects people, works hard, has always had a good head on his shoulders and is a handsome figure of a man -- a powerful asset if it's combined with the talent to take on the world.
But the world is still waiting for Gourcuff. France had a taste of his best when he led Bordeaux to a league title in 2009 with goals like this one.
He was 23 at the time. The future belonged to him. But five years on, he still hasn't taken it. Gourcuff lost his way. Too clever for his industry, too different to the egos of France's established stars like Franck Ribery or Samir Nasri, too shy for being at ease with the media, too introverted to be a star.
A few years ago, I met a friend in a Paris restaurant. By pure coincidence, I was leaving as he was arriving. He was having lunch with Gourcuff and his lawyer. He later told me that the player was late and arrived wearing a big beanie and an even bigger scarf. Quite surprised by such an outfit in April, my friend asked Yoann if everything was OK. Gourcuff replied that he didn't want to be recognised, that he hated any kind of celebrity. There was a malaise about him, a big difference between what Gourcuff was, already a big star back then, and what he wanted to be.
There is something else that has always struck me about Gourcuff. When he was playing for France -- he has 31 caps, the last one in June 2013, and four goals for Les Bleus -- he used to come to the mixed zone around 45 minutes after the end of a game and provide the best analysis you had ever heard. He would always look at his shoes when answering a question, never at whoever was asking the questions. When others just want a beer and to switch off, Gourcuff thinks tirelessly about the game, cogitating, blaming himself for a missed pass or a wrong decision.
The only thing Yoann Gourcuff likes doing is playing football. He would play five-a-side with you and your friends after work. He would play on the beach all day, in the streets, at the park, anywhere and everywhere. But the rest, the corporate and media commitments, it's not for him.
The complexity of his character, his sensitivity, the sense that he doesn't fit in the world of modern football; it has made his career far more difficult than it should have been. It led to a number of difficult dressing rooms moments in Lyon and in France, where he felt he was not accepted. For a long time, it was clear that Gourcuff was not at peace with himself and with professional football.
So it was little surprise that after his move to Lyon for 23 million euros in 2010, after his status got even bigger, the injuries started to come. They were possibly more psychological than physical. In the first four years of his time at l'OL, Gourcuff spent more time injured than not. He played 73 of Lyon's 152 Ligue 1 games in that period. Ankle, Achilles, foot, calf, back, groin, toe, knees, thighs; almost every part of his body had a problem. Including this season, he has spent nearly 700 days on the sidelines since joining Lyon.
However, his display on Sunday felt like an umpteenth revival. Yet another redemption. Can he sustain it? It was only his third league start of the season. Physically, he is not 100 percent yet, but he is not injured, either. "Mentally, he has matured. This goal will be a release for him," added Fournier.
In the summer, he agreed to lower his wages for the last year of his contract, which expires in June. Two weeks ago, against Montpellier, he scored two goals in a league game for the first time since 2009. Last Sunday, it was the beautiful winning goal against Marseille. Considering his past, it's difficult to say that the prodigy is definitely back. But keeping in mind where he's come from, it's a positive sign.