Southampton striker Larin came off the bench against Bosnia and Herzegovina and scored with his first touch inside the box just 121 seconds after entering the field. The goal sent Toronto into delirium and earned Canada their first-ever men's World Cup point.
That goal was watched by hundreds of millions of people. Southampton's name was attached to every single report.
Free advertising on the biggest stage
Johannes Spors signed Larin permanently last week on a two-year deal before the tournament began. The timing looked shrewd then. It looks brilliant now.
Larin quickly became a fan favourite at Southampton, scoring nine goals in 22 matches and earning the nickname the Brampton Bagsman from Saints supporters.
His first goal set the tone for everything that followed. Coming off the bench against Watford in February, he needed just three minutes to launch himself at a James Bree corner and power a header home. The Northam End fell in love with him on the spot.
At West Brom in March, with Southampton struggling and the Hawthorns growing increasingly hostile, Larin came off the bench again. In the 91st minute, a high cross from the left arrived from Edozie, and he met it brilliantly, heading it in off the underside of the bar to rescue a point against the run of play.
Against Bristol City in April, with Southampton desperately needing a result to keep automatic promotion hopes alive, Larin got on the end of a long ball and produced an instinctive finish to earn his side a point. It was his fourth goal in as many starts.
Against Bosnia at the World Cup on Friday, he did it again. A smart turn, an unerring finish and 121 seconds after entering the field, Toronto erupted. Same player. Same composure. Different stage.
That momentum has carried directly into the World Cup. After scoring his equaliser, Larin told reporters: "It was an amazing feeling, just to score a goal at home and I haven't scored in a while, but I knew it was coming, and I've always known I can come up. There are people who say I shouldn't be in the lineup, but I've always proved them wrong, so I did it again, and hopefully now they can shut up."
That is the mentality of a player who thrives under pressure. Southampton fans already knew that. Now the rest of the world does too.
The value only goes one way
Larin signed a two-year deal with an option for a third year. His market value currently sits at around €5 million according to Transfermarkt. Every goal at this World Cup pushes that figure upward.
Canada still have group games against Qatar and Switzerland to come, giving Larin every opportunity to add to his tally and cement his place in Jesse Marsch's starting eleven.
Southampton have a 31-goal international striker signed permanently, performing on the world stage and generating global headlines. In the middle of the worst summer the club has endured in years, that is something genuinely worth celebrating.
Spors got this one exactly right. The Brampton Bagsman is just getting started.
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