From Arsenal to the Ball God

Having been substituted early, he sat on the bench, looking at the score on the scoreboard, biting his lip with a sense of disappointment.

”After scoring the seventh goal in the Champions League, Arsenal, eager to streamline its front line, was eliminated by AC Milan in the Champions League round of 16.”

”That seemed to be a regret for the club, as the team received a lot of ridicule, but no one blamed you, who played less than full time in eight games and scored seven goals.”

”.....”

Ma’el looked at his expression at that time, his desire for the Champions League, and his compromise with reality, with a deeper smile. If there was any regret at 18, the Champions League counted as one.

But fortunately, he won a lot last year, and now he could look back at the helplessness and unwillingness of that time with a smile.

Moreover, he was still young, and now at only 19 years old, he had plenty of time to take all of this back!

The Champions League was his major goal for this season, without a doubt!

The progress bar moved forward again, to the white-hot English League Cup final at Wembley Stadium between Arsenal and Cardiff City.

”Bang!!”

In a free kick near the end of the match, Ma’el aimed left and shot right, executing a diversion tactic and blasting the ball into the goal guarded by Cardiff City’s goalkeeper Heaton.

”Aaaahhhh.....!” After scoring, he tore off his shirt and ran wildly towards the stands, shaking it all the way. The score turned to four to one, they killed the game.

”Shortly after being eliminated from the Champions League, on February 28th in the English League Cup final, you defeated Cardiff City four to one, and you lifted your first senior competition trophy.”

”In that match, you scored your third hat trick of the season and your second time achieving a hat trick. After the match, you and your friends left a very warm classic photo at Wembley.”

”You won the Best Player of the English League Cup that day, took the Golden Boot Award of the English League Cup, and swept all the awards of the event!”

The photo taken that day appeared on the screen, with Ma’el in the shot squatting on the ground, Isabella making a ’V’ sign behind his head, Davis, and Lewis flexing their muscles.

Jose and Harry raising their arms and shouting, Safina, and Aisha striking model poses in front and behind.

Different elements combined with the championship trophy formed a beautiful picture.

”Ah... haha...!” Many people in the villa laughed, as those few people from that day were all here today.

However, unlike then, Ma’el’s circle of friends expanded, and he transformed from a superstar into an internationally renowned superstar.

Ma’el felt more and more moved as he watched, sometimes blurring some past memories; at this moment, seeing these precious images, he remembered it all and immersed himself in the emotions of that time.

”On April 12th, in the 33rd round of the Premier League against Wigan Athletic, you came off the bench in the second half and quickly equalized with a super long-distance worldie! Scoring your 35th goal!”

”That moment was significant for you. You broke Alan Shearer’s and Andy Cole’s long-standing records, reaching the top of the Premier League scoring chart.”

”But you didn’t celebrate, quickly fetching the ball back to the center circle, striving for the team’s final victory.”

”A few minutes later, in the chaos, you scored again with a header, completing the equalizer + game-winning achievement, marking your 36th goal, and celebrated wildly on the sidelines.”

”...”

”Yeah.....!!”

In the footage, Ma’el raised his arms high and leaned back, roaring to the stands, venting the excitement of breaking the record and the game-winning goal. Then he turned around, ’shooting down’ the Arsenal players with his ’dual pistols’.

”Haha...!” Laughter echoed again here, as Arsenal players seemed to remember that moment, and some were visibly moved.

”On April 28th, it was a special day as Arsenal faced their final title race match. That day, Gunners Fans from all around the world gathered in London to cheer for the team.”

”With a decisive three-axe takedown, you defeated the title contending direct rivals Manchester City and lifted the Premier League trophy at the Emirates Stadium. It was your first top-flight league title and the second title of the season!”

”.....”

”On May 13th, the Premier League finale day, you scored your 100th and 101st career goals in that match, ending the Premier League season with a record of 43 goals and 20 assists, leading Arsenal.”

”The team concluded miraculously unbeaten, with 31 wins and 7 draws, amassing 100 points!”

The footage quickly shifted again to the victory parade celebration, with Arsenal fans’ red smoke enveloping the entire route of the bus, and players parading gloriously on the floats.

At the final Emirates Stadium celebration, Ma’el was the first to appear, concluding that season with a dashing front flip and punch leap after the DJ’s introduction ended.

”Oh.....!” A cheer erupted at the villa scene, and everyone applauded Ma’el.

Perhaps at that time, people were tired of reacting to the shocks Ma’el constantly brought; sometimes, it was easy to forget he was just an 18-year-old boy.

But when watching all of this at his 19th birthday party, with the mindset that ’this is when he was 18’, everyone had different feelings, more amazed.

Ma’el still stared at the screen because he knew this video wasn’t over yet.

”On June 12th, you embarked on a new journey. In the first round of the group stage of the European Cup, you announced your arrival with a long-distance strike.”

”In the second half, after Gerrard missed a penalty, you launched a quick attack, scoring with an aerial strike to take down the England team! Securing the first victory! After that match, you sat atop the European Cup Golden Boot and maintained it till the end.”