After signing with AC Milan, I will be the king of football!

”...Kevin’s gameplay always inspires me, his style is ever-changing and unpredictable for the opponents, which is amazing,”

”We all know how hard it is to change the way we play, but Kevin does it with ease. I am aiming to become a player like him someday.”

Huang Kaiwen nodded.

Feeling that his earlier praise for Mata was an understatement.

Mata’s vision alone surpassed many.

After stepping down from the stage, Mata walked over to Huang Kaiwen, who stood up and gave an excited Mata a hug.

It took nearly a minute before an emotional Mata released Huang Kaiwen.

”All right, next is the World’s Best Goalkeeper.”

The host announced on stage.

Buffon winning the award was no surprise.

In the past year, several goalkeepers performed outstandingly.

But the World Cup bonus points were too significant for a goalkeeper, allowing Buffon to leave his rivals behind.

Next, Mourinho in his sharp suit took the stage with Blatter.

In terms of appearance, Mourinho was first-rate among coaches, having landed endorsements for luxury brands as a manager.

After opening the envelope, Mourinho declared, ”For the past two years, one manager has led his team to consecutive league and UEFA Champions League titles, and he fully deserves this award—Carlo Ancelotti!”

The audience erupted into warm applause.

After shaking hands with Mourinho on stage, Ancelotti approached the podium and adjusted the microphone, ”Many people ask why I have been successful, and I say that success is easy if you have good players. I’m glad Milan was strong enough. We had Maldini, Nesta, Pirlo, Kaka, Shevchenko... Kevin. When a coach has such a lineup, success isn’t far off. I’ve just done some things that I was supposed to do. If you’re curious about what it was, you can wait for my autobiography ’Consciousness, Spirit, Game, and Will—The Power of the Human Heart’, and you’ll find your answers in it.”

Ancelotti left the stage and went on to hug a few Milan players.

When he finally hugged Huang Kaiwen, Ancelotti briefly said, ”Thank you.”

”Don’t mention it!”

Huang Kaiwen said, patting Ancelotti’s back with a smile.

Once Ancelotti returned to his seat, the young lady excitedly said, ”Darling, you’re amazing. Every world’s best has to thank you.”

”Keep it low,”

Huang Kaiwen told the young lady as he held her hand soothingly.

It was a statement that shouldn’t be thrown around lightly.

His own performance was indeed good,

but his credentials were still lacking.

With only two and a half years in his career, it was far too early for any final verdicts.

Next, the big screen showed three photos.

They were of Huang Kaiwen, Zidane, and Ronaldinho.

Everyone present knew the highlight of the evening had arrived.

Huang Kaiwen nodded.

Pirlo had guessed right after all.

Maldini’s outstanding World Cup performance had split Cannavaro’s votes.

Even though Cannavaro had an excellent World Cup, he still didn’t make the top three in the awards.

After all, these honors tend to favor attacking players.

To win the Ballon d’Or as a defender, not only do you need to perform exceptionally, but your offensive competitors must fall short as well.

The big screen displayed highlights of the three players.

Huang Kaiwen’s diving header and no-touch shooting in the Champions League final drew gasps from the audience anew.

Even those who had seen it before could only admire Huang Kaiwen’s beautiful goals upon watching them again.

The young lady couldn’t contain her smiles as she listened to the whispered comments of admiration.

Blatter, not one to prolong the suspense, opened the envelope and read, ”The 2006 Mr. World Football is... Kevin!”

The crowd burst into thunderous applause.

Huang Kaiwen had just risen to his feet when Kaka and Barbara embraced him from either side.

The previously solemn venue was filled with kind laughter.

”Okay, okay, I need to go up and accept the award now,”

Huang Kaiwen urged.

Kaka and Barbara released him, and Huang Kaiwen walked up to the stage.

”Congratulations, my boy,”

Blatter said.

”Thank you,”

Huang Kaiwen nodded and replied.

The Dutch veteran Davids handed the gleaming trophy to Huang Kaiwen, saying, ”Your performance is worthy of all praise, congratulations Kevin.”

After nodding in thanks, Huang Kaiwen approached the lectern.

He placed the trophy on the table and adjusted the microphone, ”I’ve thanked a lot of people during previous awards, so I won’t do that today—as long as you understand my gratitude. What I want to talk about today is the importance of teamwork. Whether at Milan or Real Madrid, I’ve had great teammates and coaches. That’s why I’m standing here. My success couldn’t have happened without my teammates’ assistance. I want to thank everyone who supported me; you’ve made me extraordinary from ordinary!”

Huang Kaiwen once again lifted the trophy.

There was also a stir within the system.

[Ding, successfully intercepted Cannavaro’s sole Mr. World Football honor, skill activation successful, trait copy successful]

Tears welled in Missy’s eyes as she covered her mouth, gazing at Huang Kaiwen’s upright figure.

Her Kevin was such a humble person.

Even though he was already the best player in the world, he never forgot those who had helped him.

In Barbara’s view, teammates and the coach weren’t important at all.

But her Kevin still chose to thank those ”unimportant” people, a precious quality that must be highlighted by the newspapers, to let the whole world know just how outstanding her Kevin was.

Huang Kaiwen, Zidane, and Ronaldo took a few photos together, and the award ceremony was officially over.

With the silver trophy in hand, Zidane said to Huang Kaiwen, ”I somewhat regret retiring so early, it would have been fun to play with you.”

”Then you could announce a comeback,”

Huang Kaiwen said, laughing.

”I think I’ll pass, I’ve already gotten used to the comfortable life after retirement,”

Zidane shook his head and said.

He wasn’t lacking in honors or money.

Playing football day in and out for over a decade can indeed become tiring.

”Well, alright then, but if you ever change your mind, I believe everyone at Real Madrid would welcome you back.”

”If I ever have the thought, I will go back,”

Zidane nodded and said,

then hurriedly left.

The shadow of the World Cup defeat hadn’t entirely left him, and he currently wasn’t too fond of attending football events.

Ronaldinho, baring his teeth in a smile, said to Huang Kaiwen, ”We should go celebrate.”

”Forget it, my girlfriend’s here,”

Huang Kaiwen replied.

”Then maybe next time, when there’s a chance,”

Ronaldinho nodded and said.

There was still the league to look forward to, and he was just asking out of habit.

Huang Kaiwen and Missy returned to the hotel with the Milan stars.

Next, Real Madrid only had an away match against Recreativo Huelva, scheduled the day after the award ceremony, and both he and Cannavaro had already been informed they need not join the team for the away match.

Milan had a busier schedule; Serie A started later, so naturally, the halfway point of the season ended later, too.

While Huang Kaiwen was still in dreamland,

the land of China had completely erupted.

”Our country’s player Huang Kaiwen became the eighth player in history to win both the Ballon d’Or and Mr. World Football in the same year”

”Huang Kaiwen triumphs over Zidane to win the award”

”Ronaldo lavishly praises Huang Kaiwen as the world’s number one, conceding defeat wholeheartedly”

”Ancelotti says his success is all thanks to Huang Kaiwen”

”Pele, in an interview, expresses his delight to see Huang Kaiwen win”

Newspapers and the internet were flooded with news about Huang Kaiwen.

The morning news briefly broadcasted a few interviews, each one full of praise for Huang Kaiwen without exception.

The evening news would have a lengthy segment on him as well.

Scrolling texts appeared under several national TV stations, prepping for Channel Five’s ”Football Night” and ”World Football,” programs that would both feature special episodes on Huang Kaiwen next.

After waking up, Huang Kaiwen flew back to Milan City with the entire Milan team.

Back home,

He then remembered the incident of intercepting Cannavaro.

The main reason was that the first trait he received was not immediately useful, so he hadn’t paid it much mind.

Trait: Mr. Clutch (Cannavaro) — In crucial matches, your positioning sense improves, and the precision of your sliding tackles in your own box significantly increases.

This trait can’t be said to be excellent or poor.

But Huang Kaiwen still preferred offensive traits.

Cannavaro had been intercepted twice, and the rewards weren’t even as good as intercepting Ronaldinho’s single Ballon d’Or.

In the evening, Huang Kaiwen made a point of watching the matches; Real Madrid surprisingly lost 3:0 at the away game against Recreativo Huelva, with goals from players Huang Kaiwen had no recollection of.

Meanwhile, Milan’s match—which began half an hour later—ended in a victory, with Kaka providing 2 assists and 1 goal, demonstrating a Ballon d’Or worthy performance.

On December 23, Milan still secured a 3-goal victory over Udinese in an away match, wrapping up all the games of 2006.

After returning to Milan City,

Kaka brought his girlfriend to visit Huang Kaiwen’s home.

They would spend Christmas at Huang Kaiwen’s place.