With a huge red lei around his neck and a wide grin that could have stretched across Oahu, Larry Fitzgerald held up the gleaming, silver MVP trophy. It sparkled in the sunshine as much as his game.

The only problem: It wasn’t the Lombardi Trophy.

Fitzgerald caught five passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns, 44-year-old John Carney kicked two fourth-quarter field goals, and the NFC rallied to a 30-21 victory over the AFC. The Arizona Cardinals’ All-Pro receiver, coming off a record-breaking postseason and a spectacular Super Bowl in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, earned MVP honors.

But he said the victory over the AFC, which featured three members of the Steelers’ defense, didn’t ease the pain from the Super Bowl.

‘‘No, not one bit,’’ he said.

Fitzgerald also took home keys to a new Cadillac.

‘‘I’m just glad we won, that’s the most important thing,’’ he said.

On a sweltering day, with 60 percent humidity, Kurt Warner started for the NFC and played just one series before making way for Brees. Warner was just 1-of-2 for 8 yards.

‘‘I would’ve liked to have won last week and not this week, if I could switch them out,’’ he said.