Five things we learned: Uruguay 2-1 Portugal
Uruguay are international football's Atletico Madrid and not even Cristiano Ronaldo can win the FIFA World Cup on his own. It's five things we learned about Uruguay v Portugal.
URUGUAY ARE INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL'S ATLETICO MADRID
Oscar Tabarez's men won this game despite enjoying just 30% of possession after half-time and registering only one shot on target - the one that Edinson Cavani curled beautifully beyond Rui Patricio in the 62nd minute.
Their attacking threat was blunted by the subsequent loss of Cavani to injury but still Portugal rarely threatened, thanks largely to a heroic defensive effort led by Atletico centre-back pairing Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez.
Pepe's header was the first goal they have conceded in 2018, and they have looked utterly impenetrable for long stretches of this tournament.
Diego Simeone would be proud.
SUPERSTARS CANNOT WIN WORLD CUPS ALONE
It was fitting that on the same day Lionel Messi found himself outgunned by a Kylian Mbappe-inspired France, his great rival Ronaldo also bowed out of the FIFA World Cup after being utterly stifled by a stubborn Uruguay.
Ronaldo had more shots at goal (six) than the entire Uruguay team, but was never allowed into a position where he could seriously threaten Muslera. Just as with Messi and Argentina, his Portugal teammates could not take advantage of the attention he commanded.
It is now likely that both of these all-time greats will retire having never scored in a FIFA World Cup knockout match - compelling evidence that on football's greatest stage, complete teams succeed more often than brilliant individuals.
EDINSON CAVANI CAN BE THE MAN FOR THE BIG STAGE
A recurring criticism in Cavani's career has been the notion that he does not produce his best when the stakes are highest, that his finishing touch deserts him.
That could not have been further from the truth in Sochi; even if the opening goal may have flown into the net more off his shoulder than his head, the Paris Saint-Germain striker eliminated all doubt about his mental fortitude with a magnificent curling winner.
It would be a huge pity if the injury that forced him off shortly afterwards proves the end of his tournament. Tabarez will be praying it isn't so.
PORTUGAL MIGHT HAVE MISSED THEIR LAST CHANCE
Fernando Santos regarded age as a virtue when building this Portugal side, and was rewarded spectacularly by their gritty Euro 2016 triumph.
There were signs here, though, that they may be reaching the end of the line. In cancelling out Cavani's opener, 35-year-old Pepe became his country's oldest-ever scorer at a major international tournament.
Ronaldo has now played a joint-record 38 games across FIFA World Cups and European Championships. Now 33, even if he does make it to Qatar in 2022, it is highly unlikely that the Real Madrid star will be anywhere near the peak of his powers.
It looks like if Portugal are to win a FIFA World Cup soon, it will be with a new generation.
URUGUAY WILL GIVE FRANCE ALL THEY CAN HANDLE
This is the first time Uruguay have won their opening four games to a FIFA World Cup tournament since 1930, when they triumphed in the inaugural tournament.
Tabarez's men boast the meanest defence in the competition, a competent midfield and enough attacking firepower to beat anyone, regardless of whether or not Cavani is fit enough to contribute from here on out.
France will go into Friday's quarter-final in Nizhny Novgorod with considerable momentum but one thing is certain: If they concede three times to Uruguay as they did Argentina, they are highly unlikely to score four at the other end.