When Riyad Mahrez shifted the ball onto his right foot at the Amex Stadium on Sunday and rifled a shot into the top corner, Manchester City knew they could start to celebrate becoming 2018/19 Premier League champions.
The goal put them 3-1 up at Brighton - with an Ilkay Gundogan free kick to follow - and secured the vital three points that crowned them champions ahead of Liverpool in one of the closest title races in years.
But as well as effectively sealing the title for City, Mahrez also sent a message to manager Pep Guardiola that he was worthy of his place in the starting line up.
The Algerian had found himself out of favour in recent weeks, even though fellow winger Leroy Sane has also spent long periods on the bench. But he took his chance on the final day to get City over the line. It could save his City career.
With the FA Cup final approaching, a number of Mahrez's teammates will be looking for a similar impact in the final game of the season.
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For City, victory would see them become the first team to win the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup in the same season. But for some players, a good performance could determine how City act in the transfer window.
Leroy Sane
Firmly out of favour at the moment, Sane has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich this week as Mahrez's inclusion at Brighton cemented where last season's Young Player of the Year stands.
Sane is one of City's most dangerous attacking threats on his day, but Guardiola clearly wants more from the German.
A performance at Wembley - if given the chance - could reignite his City career.
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John Stones
Another player who has found himself on the fringes in recent weeks, Stones has been dropped to the bench in favour of Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi in the final games of the title run-in.
A cup final at Wembley could be the perfect send-off for Kompany if the captain is to leave this summer, but Stones will be eager to start and show Guardiola why he is deserving of a starting spot in the centre of defence.
With Matthijs de Ligt linked as a long-term successor to Kompany, Stones will want the chance to show Guardiola why he can fill those boots.
Gabriel Jesus
Jesus finds himself in a different position to Stones and Sane, in the fact that there is a world class player stopping him from regular football.
But Jesus has had plenty of joy in the cup competitions this season - including the decisive goal in the semi-final win over Brighton - and arguably deserves to keep his spot in the final.
However, Guardiola knows what a treble would mean to City, and knows Aguero is his strongest striker to help him achieve that.
So if Jesus is given the chance, he will want to show Guardiola that he is worthy of more playing time in the big games next season - and not just when Aguero eventually leaves.
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The rest of the squad
Phil Foden was left out of the matchday squad against Brighton in the league finale - despite starting the previous game against Leicester. The 18-year-old already has five trophies to his name, but a chance to cap off a fine season with an FA Cup final appearance could do wonders for his development.
Danilo has found himself back-up to Kyle Walker again this season and is linked with Inter Milan this summer. An appearance in the cup final - or not - would indicate what City's plans for the right-back really are.
Fabian Delph almost cost City a quarter final exit at Swansea in the FA Cup, and he would be a prime candidate to depart City this summer after limited playing time. He would surely relish a chance at Wembley to show what he still has to offer.
