From Arsenal to the Ball God

On December 7th, finishing his filming tasks, Ma’el devoted all his focus to training, and at home, he watched the final round of the Champions League group stage match of the team.

In this match, Wenger fielded a lineup somewhat resembling the one from the last English League Cup, the difference being no main player appeared in the starting lineup.

Having already secured the top spot, it’s an opportunity for those who don’t usually get to play in the Champions League to feel the atmosphere and get some practice.

Ultimately, in the fiery fireworks feast of Olympiacos’ devilish home ground, the home team surged ahead, scoring three goals in succession, handing Arsenal a shutout.

It was a heavy defeat, but Wenger left Greece with a smile... thanks to the main players achieving a 4-game winning streak at the start, other players in the team had the chance to experience such high-level matches.

This is very important, as only by continuously experiencing significant matches can the strength of the rotating players gradually align with the main lineup.

Once the congested schedule officially begins, this aspect will affect the team’s ultimate outcome.

Thus, the Champions League group stage concluded, and Arsenal advanced as the first in the group with 4 wins and 2 losses, accumulating 12 points.

Dortmund advanced as the second in the group with 3 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses, and 10 points, Olympiacos took third in the group, falling to the Europa League, while Marseille Team directly returned to France.

”Ah!”

At 6 PM that day, Ma’el, who had finished training and was eating, suddenly heard Safina shriek, turned to see her holding a phone, as if she had seen something incredible.

”Buzz buzz...”

”Buzz buzz buzz...!”

His phone also instantly popped up with a few messages, vibrating crazily, finally interrupted by a phone ring.

Something up?

He picked up his phone and saw it was Mendes calling, they had just parted not long ago.

”Golden Ball Award nominee!”

Safina quickly ran over, her face full of excitement, ”Ma’el, you’ve made it into the 2011 Golden Ball Award nominee list!”

”The Golden Ball Award?!” Ma’el suddenly stood up, he didn’t hurry to answer Mendes’ call, but first checked a few messages sent by social media.

Among them were messages from his uncle, aunt, Wenger, Deschamps, and a bunch of teammates from the club.

All congratulating him on making it into the end of the year 2011 Golden Ball Award nominee list, some even joked that he would become Arsenal’s first Mr. Golden Ball.

Really made it?

Thinking about the time, the Golden Ball Award does seem to release its nominee list just a month earlier, this year’s award ceremony is set for January, so a December release makes sense.

Ma’el was instantly surrounded by joy, he didn’t expect to become a nominee for this most significant personal award in his very first season in the top league!

He knew that with his current influence and data performance, winning the Golden Ball Award was impossible.

But being nominated for the Golden Ball Award is already a huge honor.

An 18-year-old Golden Ball Award nominee is very rare in the history of football.

”Hello?”

Ma’el answered Mendes’ call with a smile, already knowing what the other side would say.

”I swear I did nothing, before this, no one thought of you in terms of this... yet it just happened.

”You must know by now Ma’el, you’ve made it into the Golden Ball nominee list, you’re going to the annual award feast early next year.

”Whether it’s making the list or appearing at the award ceremony, this will greatly increase your influence, congratulations indeed!”

Ma’el nodded, the Golden Ball award ceremony in the football world, just like the Oscars in the film industry.

Just participating means you’ve entered the core level of this circle, the mainstream stage!

This is another major step in his career, he stepped into the hall of his dreams!

”See you in Zurich in January!”

Mendes, who will also attend the award ceremony then, his other player Ronaldo, will surely secure a top-three spot in the Golden Ball, ”I’ve decided not to sign any commercial endorsements for you recently.

”We’ll wait a while, until after the Golden Ball award ceremony, when your value increases again, before taking endorsements.

”Being an 18-year-old Golden Ball nominee, this title will dramatically increase your endorsement fee by hundreds of thousands of pounds, next time I quote, I’ll start from 1.6 million!”

”Alright, see you in Zurich.”

Ma’el hung up the phone excitedly, searching for news about the Golden Ball Award nominee list on his phone, and soon saw all the nominees of this edition.

Barça: Abidal, Alves, Fabregas, Iniesta, Messi, Pique, Villa, Javi

Real Madrid: Benzema, Casillas, Cristiano Ronaldo, Alonso

Bayern Munich: Mueller, Schweinsteiger

Inter Milan: Fernando Forlan, Sneijder

Manchester United: Nani, Rooney

Manchester City: Aguero

Liverpool: Suarez

Arsenal: Ma’el

Santos: Neymar

Anzhi: Eto’o

A total of 23 names, after combining the 2010 World Player of the Year and Golden Ball Award, this list includes outstanding players from all countries and leagues worldwide.

They are the 23 brightest stars of the year in most people’s minds!

Apart from the five major leagues, club players from the Russian Super League and Brasileirão have also been nominated.

”You’re the only one from Arsenal, Van Persie didn’t make it, you did!”

Safina screamed all the way with her phone to Ma’el’s side, quickly waking up the other three in the room resting, who gradually emerged.

”What’s up?”

Harry, still bleary-eyed, seemed just awakened, frowned, ”What do you mean Van Persie didn’t make it, Ma’el did?”