Brazil is still without an Olympic gold medal in soccer. Mexico upset their star-laden under-23 team 2-1 to win the final of the men’s tournament. Oribe Peralta scored within the first minute and scored again in the second half. Brazil held the edge in possession, but could not capitalize in it. Hulk pulled one back in extra time to make it look more respectable.

There’s danger in reading too much into Olympic soccer. It remains, by FIFA design, a quirky youth tournament. That said, this loss may cost Brazil coach Mario Menezes his job, shrouding the team with uncertainty and enhancing the already overwhelming pressure Brazil’s team will face at the home World Cup in 2014.

This is the biggest win in Mexican soccer history. Some in the know are already terming this the greatest era. At the very least, it exemplifies the growing gap with the United States. The Americans did not qualify for this tournament.

[Photo via Getty]