From Arsenal to the Ball God

”As long as the skills are good, age doesn’t matter..... Also, Ma’el is the type with high football intelligence. He’s not as rough as he seems in the highlights; he uses his brain and is very smart, so everyone admires him.”

The U19 player nodded slightly and turned to look at the screen in front of the meeting room, full of envy for Ma’el.

...

In Sheffield City, at the Sheffield United Conference Center, a group of people also gathered here to watch the awards ceremony.

Although the scale is not as large as Arsenal’s, Ma’el’s former coach and teammates have all come over. They naturally also want to witness Ma’el’s important moment.

Although the goal that got Ma’el into the candidate list was scored against Sheffield United..... the match is long over, and Ma’el has already apologized after the game; these people have long since moved on.

Today, they came in their personal capacity to watch this awards ceremony, and they look forward to Ma’el winning the award!

”Which award is being presented first?”

Gilbert looked around anxiously and asked, ”Is it the Puskás Award?”

”I don’t know.” Jorson beside him shook his head, ”The rhythm and sequence of each ceremony are different; no one can be sure which will be presented first.

”Let’s just wait and see; it’s only forty to fifty minutes, and the results will be out soon.”

Next to him, Janu nudged Evans with a smile, looking at the screen as if wanting to ask Evans what he thought of this moment.

Evans looked at him puzzled, not understanding, ”What?”

”What’s your impression?” Janu asked with a helpless pout.

”What impression?” Evans smiled, glanced at the screen, and said, ”I’m not Ma’el, and I’m not attending the ceremony; what impression could I have?”

”I mean our former teammate standing on this stage.” Janu was even more exasperated, wanting to strangle Evans.

”Oh, that.”

Evans thought for a bit, then became serious, ”It just feels so fast; it’s only been just over half a year, and he’s already there.

”Do you remember? When he first joined, he couldn’t even get into the starting lineup.”

”Haha.....” Janu laughed at the memory, ”You’re right. Kevin wasn’t using him at that time, and he didn’t have a clear advantage over left midfielder Mark Yates.”

He also turned his gaze to the screen, thinking of Ma’el’s past, his eyes filled with complex emotions, including happiness for his good brother, envy, awe, and reflection.

He clearly understood that even though they are both Premier League players now..... the gap between them and this former teammate is definitely larger than the gap between Championship players and Premier League players.

A real difference between heaven and earth!

In the unnoticed front row, Garrispeed brought a bottle of wine today, drinking by himself, his limbs occasionally trembling in the dim light, overflowing with excitement.

...

In London, inside a suit shop.

Isabella sat on the sofa with her dear friend, watching the broadcast on TV, full of anticipation.

”Speaking of.”

Her friend turned around with a meaningful smile, ”Ma’el seems perfect in every way, don’t just think about yourself, introduce me to a similar player if you have the chance.

”Football players must have incredible energy, and they have wealth and fame. Dating them must be a great experience.”

”Stop dreaming, Aisha.”

Isabella watched the awards ceremony, her lips slightly curving up, ”There’s only one player like him.”

”Oh, sure...” Aisha pouted sarcastically, pulling out her phone, ”Then watch by yourself.”

After looking at her phone for a bit, she put it down again, curiously asking, ”So how far have you two gone now? Are you in a relationship?”

”Who told you we are going to date?” Isabella raised her head and asked back, seemingly unwilling to answer the question.

”So you’re not.” Aisha shook her head and returned to looking at her phone, finally reminding her, ”I suggest you hurry; remember the first time you mentioned him to me, he was still on your dad’s team.

”Recently he was at Arsenal, and now, he’s attending the awards ceremony.

”At this pace, he will certainly have the international influence Beckham had back in the day.”

...

At the Swiss Zurich Conference Center, Gullit’s opening speech had already finished.

”Clap clap clap.....”

Ma’el clapped along with everyone else, still brimming with excitement, everything before him was a novel experience.

He also secretly vowed in his heart, in the new year, to put on an even better performance, strive for some prestigious championships, and sit here again next year!

And to challenge for more honors, let his seat be even closer to the front, and his rankings even higher!

”Now, let’s introduce the three candidates for the Puskás Award, please look at the big screen.”

Host Gullit then pointed to the screen, where Rooney’s name appeared, and his bicycle kick highlight reel began to play.

Ma’el suddenly felt his heart stir, tense and expectant, focusing intently on the screen.

Could it be that this year’s awards ceremony will present the Puskás Award first?

”Rooney....!” On the TV, Rooney executed a stylish bicycle kick, after scoring, he excitedly ran to the side of the field, leaning back with arms wide open, as if embracing the whole stadium.

Following this goal, Neymar’s goal for Santos, where he dribbled past multiple players, also appeared on the screen, with Neymar Jr. in the footage looking as if possessed by a spirit, breaking through two players in quick succession before a one-two with a teammate.