For Kerala’s football faithful, the memory of a perfectly weighted diagonal pass from Lionel Messi to Julián Álvarez in the 2022 World Cup semi-final against Croatia triggered something deeply nostalgic. As the Argentine scored in the 69th minute, fans were reminded of another moment of brilliance — one that took them back half a century to the 1973 Santosh Trophy final.

It was a similar pass, executed with flawless precision, not by a global icon but by Kerala’s own Najimudeen, fondly remembered as a prodigious talent of his time and nicknamed the ‘Kerala Müller’. That ball, placed with surgical accuracy at the feet of captain Mani, is etched in the collective memory of those who witnessed it.

"He served passes on a platter, quite literally," said G. Ravindran Nair — better known as goalie Ravi — who struggled to find words as he spoke about the passing of his former teammate and dear friend. “We used to call it the ‘Aluva pass’. Najimudeen was a playmaker as calculated and effective as Messi.”

Ravi, a goalkeeper in the same historic squad, hailed from a house just beside Najimudeen’s in Thevally, Kollam. More than teammates, they shared a deep friendship that began in childhood. Another local player, Titus Kurien, was also part of that iconic team. Injuries to key players in the 1973 tournament opened up unexpected opportunities — Blassy George’s absence brought in Najimudeen, while injuries to first-choice goalkeeper Victor Manjila and backup Sethumadhavan saw Ravi take up the gloves from the pre-quarterfinal stage.

Najimudeen rose to the occasion, scoring two of Kerala’s four goals in a decisive victory against Karnataka and later adding another against Andhra Pradesh. In the final against the Railways, his chance to score the winner was imminent — the goalmouth lay open. But the 19-year-old chose to pass the ball to captain Mani, enabling him to complete his hat-trick and seal Kerala’s victory.

For Najimudeen, personal glory came second. Team triumph and camaraderie mattered more. Goalkeeper Ravi also played a pivotal role in that win, his performances under pressure proving crucial.

The two remained inseparable at all reunions of that legendary team. Now, those gatherings will be missing a key presence.

As Ravi grieves the loss of his old friend, he is perhaps experiencing the same solitude he once felt as a goalkeeper, awaiting a penalty kick — a lonely watchman in the vast arena of life.