When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 120, the first award, represents the starting point.

On January 25, in the French Cup, Monaco played against Valenciennes away from home.

Deschamps fielded a completely new rotating attacking line – Ribery, Adebayor, and Plasil forming a trident.

Just 15 minutes into the game, Ribery broke through on the left wing and delivered a precise cross, which Adebayor headed into the net. In the 28th minute, Plasil cut inside from the right and fired a low shot into the net. Before halftime, Gallardo's long-range shot from outside the penalty area made the score 3-0.

In the 69th minute, Cissé assisted Ribery to score with a powerful shot.

In the 70th minute, the electronic display board on the sidelines showed that number 10 replaced number 27.

Ribery jogged off the field.

"How are you feeling?" Roy tossed the towel over.

Ribery caught it with both hands, his Adam's apple bobbing: "That's fantastic!"

He suddenly raised his voice, as if trying to cover something up, "So it's this great to be a substitute!"

In the final moments of the match, Roy received a cross from Plasil just outside the penalty area.

He made a move as if to unleash a powerful shot, but at the moment of contact with the ball, he flicked his ankle and deftly sent the ball through the legs of the goalkeeper and into the net.

The final score was 5-1.

When the final whistle blew, Ribery was the first to rush off the bench and bump shoulders with Roy in celebration.

On January 26, 2004, the press room at Monaco's La Tilby training ground was unusually crowded.

Marco Ferrari, a journalist from the Italian newspaper Tuttosport, stood on the stage, next to a gold-plated trophy covered with red silk.

Below the stage, flashbulbs went off continuously as media reporters from France, the Netherlands, and Italy set up their cameras, awaiting the official announcement of the inaugural European Golden Boy Award.

When Roy entered the press room, his teammates were already lined up on both sides. Giuly whistled, and Morientes led the applause.

Evra grinned and mouthed exaggeratedly, "The big star is here."

Marco Ferrari lifted the red cloth, revealing a 35-centimeter-tall gilded football model that gleamed under the lights.

He cleared his throat and announced in heavily accented Italian English: "The inaugural European Golden Boy Award winner—Roy!"

Roy walked onto the stage and accepted the heavy trophy (weighing a full 4 kilograms). Before he could even react, Deschamps had already pushed him toward the camera.

Reporters shouted, "How does it feel to be the first person in history to do so?"

L'Équipe reporter: "Roy, as the inaugural Golden Boy winner, what does this award mean to you personally?"

Roy looked down at the trophy in his hand, his fingertips lightly tracing the inscription on the base: "To be honest, I didn't intentionally try to win this award. But now that I've won it, it means I can no longer use 'I'm still young' as an excuse."

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips. "I tell myself, 'Now you don't even have the right to make mistakes.'"

France Football reporter: "Monaco is unbeaten in Ligue 1 this season. Do you think this record can continue until the end of the season?"

Roy turned to look at Deschamps, who had his arms crossed and his face expressionless.

He looked away, his tone serious: "We don't discuss 'undefeated' before each game, we only discuss 'victory.' As long as no one in the locker room mentions it, it won't become a source of pressure."

Telegraph reporter: "Van der Vaart said in an interview that the Golden Boy award should belong to 'more complete players,' what do you think?"

The scene fell silent instantly.

Roy raised an eyebrow: "Raphael (Van der Vaart) is a rival I respect, but the criteria for award selection has never been 'all-around,' but 'performance.'"

"If he wants to prove he deserves it more, see you in the Champions League next year."

He suddenly broke into a bright smile: "It's a real shame Ajax went home in the group stage, otherwise we could have taught them how to play in the Champions League in the quarterfinals."

The Dutch journalists in the audience collectively gasped.

"As for next year?"

Roy turned the trophy around so that the side engraved with the age restriction "U21" was facing the camera, "At that point, this award will have absolutely nothing to do with Raphael anymore."

Sky Sports reporter: "Monaco is about to enter the Champions League knockout stage. What are your personal goals?"

Roy didn't hesitate this time: "Score, assist, win—in that order."

Laughter erupted from the audience, and he laughed along with himself. "No, just kidding. There are no 'individual goals' in the Champions League, only 'team goals.' If I can help Monaco go further, even if it's just playing one more game, it's more important than winning the Golden Boy award."

Tuttosport reporter: "As the first-ever Golden Boy winner, what advice would you give to future winners?"

Roy hugged the trophy tighter to his chest, as if afraid someone would snatch it away: "Don't repeat my speech today."

The audience burst into laughter again.

He said seriously, "Seriously speaking, enjoy football itself; awards are just a bonus."

The teammates burst into laughter, and Giuly shouted from behind, "We have to treat everyone tonight!"

Deschamps glared at him, but the corners of his mouth also turned up slightly.

After the awards ceremony, Roy was asked to pose for a photo holding the trophy alone, and the flash made him squint.

The trophy base is engraved with "2003 Golden Boy" and the logo of Tuttosport, and it feels cool and smooth to the touch.

Jean-Pettit looked at Roy on the stage holding the Golden Boy trophy and felt as if he had returned to last winter.

That day, he specially drove his treasured Matra sports car, which had been his prized possession for many years. Its bright yellow body was particularly eye-catching at Nice Airport.

"Get in the car, young man."

He remembered greeting Roy like that.

The young man handed his luggage to the van behind him and nimbly climbed into the passenger seat.

The sports car's seats were so low that Roy's knees were almost touching his chin.

As the car traveled along the coastline, Petit deliberately slowed down.

Yachts, casinos, and luxury shops flashed past the window, and in the rearview mirror, Roy's eyes were fixed on the gilded entrance of the Monte Carlo Grand Casino.

"I used to tell young people that football should be pure."

Pettit was holding the steering wheel with one hand at the time: "Until one day I remembered that when I got my first contract, the first thing I did was buy this car."

The sports car rounded a sharp bend, and the sea breeze rushed in through the windows.

Roy suddenly spoke, his voice soft yet drowning out the roar of the engine: "I came into this world to win everything."

At that moment, the flashes from the awards stage made Petit squint.

He saw Roy stroking the trophy base with his fingertips, just like he had touched the texture of the leather seats in the sports car that day.

The old man suddenly smiled.

Every word this child says is coming true.

On the morning of January 27, 2004, sports media editorial departments across Europe were busier than ever before.

When Tuttosport first reported that Roy had won the inaugural Golden Boy award, a media storm quickly swept the globe.

From Europe to South America, from Africa to Asia, all sports media outlets are busy focusing on the same person.

The roar of the printing press, the arguments in the editorial department, and the countdown to the live broadcast on television intertwined to create a media extravaganza belonging to Roy.

This 19-year-old boy's amazing performance made the inaugural Golden Boy Award far more popular than anyone expected, including seasoned sports journalists.

In the editorial office of Tuttosport, the editor-in-chief couldn't stop smiling as he looked at the ever-increasing sales figures.

They originally planned to do a regular awards ceremony report, but Roy's sudden emergence caused this special issue to sell out.

"Print another 10 copies!" he shouted into the phone.

The printing press machines roared all night long, and the workers packed up the packages while discussing the young man's amazing performance.

Reporters flocked to the training ground in Monaco.

Media outlets from Germany, the UK, and Spain all sent dedicated interview teams.

Security had to be increased to maintain order; such scenes usually only occur before the Champions League final.

Sales of Roy's jerseys skyrocketed within 48 hours of the announcement of his award, with a club store employee saying, "We can't keep up with the sales."

Nike's marketing department is celebrating with champagne; their bet on Roy's performance-based agreement now looks incredibly lucrative. Latest data shows that sales of the Mercurial Spurs colorway endorsed by Roy have surged by 300%, and stores are already running out of sizes.

At Adidas' German headquarters, the atmosphere in the meeting room was so tense it was almost palpable.

The CFO stared at the computer screen and shook his head: "The penalty for breach of contract plus the new contract, this price is enough for us to sign half of the Bayern Munich team."

The PR director whispered, "The BBC wants to do a feature on him, and TF1 and RTL also need interview slots."

The meeting room suddenly fell silent as everyone processed the fact that, in an era without social media, this young man had created a media storm comparable to Beckham's.

"How about we contact his agent privately?" someone suggested in a low voice.

The CEO immediately glared at him: "Do you think Nike's legal department is a pushover? Their contract clearly states the penalty for breach of contract."

Everyone fell silent, only able to stare longingly at the photo on the screen of Roy posing with his award on the lawn while wearing Nike sneakers.

That glaring hook logo seemed to mock their indecisiveness.

Even people who don't usually follow football started talking about Roy. In Parisian cafes, taxi drivers debated his comparison to Henry; in Madrid bars, fans lamented that Real Madrid had let go of this gem; and on the streets of Turin, young people imitated his signature celebration.

Roy's meteoric rise and his success with the Golden Boy award have created a perfect synergy. Several key factors underlie this win-win situation: First, Roy's amazing performance at Monaco far surpasses that of his peers, especially his highlight moments in the Champions League, which makes the selection results highly convincing.

Secondly, Tuttosport accurately grasped the psychology of football media's desire for new idols, and through a carefully planned award ceremony and global media collaboration, turned this new award into a phenomenal event.

Furthermore, Roy's highly topical personal qualities—his comeback story from being a Real Madrid reject to becoming a Monaco star, his "new talent showdown" with Van der Vaart, and his status as Deschamps' disciple—continue to generate news headlines.

Finally, in early 2004, at a time of transition in the football world, fans and media were looking for new idols in the "post-Zidane era," and Roy's emergence filled that vacuum.

In football history, the Golden Boy award truly became a global focus when Messi won it in 2005.

But Roy created an even more astonishing phenomenon.

He displayed a dominance far exceeding that of Messi at the same age when he was 18, igniting the football world more than a year ahead of schedule.

His stunning performances in the Champions League made everyone who witnessed them realize that he was an extraordinary talent. His imaginative goals and assists not only captivated fans but also convinced professional judges:

They are witnessing the rise of a future superstar.

In contrast, Messi spent most of his time honing his skills at Barcelona B when he was 18, while Roy was already dominating the Champions League.

This visible disparity, coupled with the media's carefully crafted "new king's coronation" narrative, garnered the inaugural Golden Boy Awards far more attention than expected.

November 30st, Ligue 1 Round 22.

In the rainy night at the Stade Louis II, Monaco completely tore apart Paris Saint-Germain's defense with a textbook tactical performance.

From the opening whistle, Deschamps' team displayed terrifying dominance.

Marcelo Gallardo orchestrated the midfield like a symphony conductor, while the double pivot of Pedretti and Bernardi constantly used precise diagonal long passes to move the opponent around, and Roy's every touch on the left wing left Mendy in a sorry state.

In the 18th minute, Monaco's multi-pronged attack finally paid off.

Giuly cut inside from the right wing, drawing three defenders before suddenly passing the ball back. Bernardi unleashed a powerful shot from 30 meters out, causing Alonzo to fumble the ball. Morientes, like a shark smelling blood, pounced on the loose ball between Paris's two center-backs, De Hughes and Pierre Vanfan, and slotted it into the net.

Trailing behind, Paris attempted a comeback, but their 4-4-2 formation completely lost control in midfield.
Canna and Rocchi were outmaneuvered by three Monaco midfielders, while Fiorese and Sorin were completely overwhelmed by the duo of Evra Roy and Gevit Giuly.

In the 34th minute, Roy displayed his devilish footwork on the left wing. He first feigned a cut inside to trick Mendy into shifting his center of gravity, then poked the ball towards the byline with his toe and unleashed a low shot from an almost zero angle, the ball passing under Alonzo's arm and into the far corner.

After the break, Paris brought on Pauleta, who had just recovered from injury, in an attempt to strengthen their attack, but this only made their defense even more vulnerable.

In the 61st minute, Giuly made a series of dribbling changes on the right wing before sending a cutback pass. Roy deliberately let the ball pass, and Morientes, who had made a run into the box, unleashed a powerful shot that hit the crossbar. Gallardo followed up with a shot, but Alonzo made a brilliant save. However, the alert Giuly headed in the rebound from a tight angle to seal the victory.

Throughout the match, Monaco maintained a 63% possession rate and took 22 shots. Roy completed 7 successful dribbles, a season high. His and Giuly's repeated attacks on the left and right wings turned Paris's flank defense into a complete disaster.

Analysis of TF1's special program "Le Club des Champions".

Opening remarks by host Thierry Rolland:

"This season, Monaco completed a tactical revolution at the Stade Louis II that will go down in Ligue 1 history! Deschamps' 4-3-3 system dismantled Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain's 4-4-2 like a precise scalpel, while the Roy Morientes-Giuly trident made the whole of European football re-examine this team from the Principality of Monaco!"

Guest Laurent Blanco:
"As a former teammate of Deschamps, I know his football philosophy all too well! Back when we won the championship in '98, he always said, 'Modern football is a game of chess for 11 people.' Look at this period of time, he has completely liberated Roy, the 'Queen'!"

(In chess, the queen is the strongest attacking piece on the board with the highest tactical freedom, the widest range of movement, and the strongest tactical deterrent. Jacquet once used "Zidane is our queen" to emphasize the privileges of the core player. Blanc's words at this moment are a clear echo of the tactical legacy of the golden generation.)
“Deschamps’ tactical evolution is amazing! Look at this data – Monaco’s average running distance per game this season is 2.3 kilometers more than last season, which means that every player is serving the system. Especially Roy, he no longer needs to drop back to midfield to receive the ball, but can focus on creating damage on the left wing.”

"Deschamps locked down the midfield with Pedretti and Bernardi, allowing Roy to focus on dancing in the opponent's left 30-meter zone, just like Zidane did back in the day!"

"Look at this attack! Roy doesn't even need to drop back - Gallardo controls the game like a young Deschamps, Evra overlaps and draws the defense away, this is the 'triangle release of genius' tactic that we were best at in '98! Deschamps has perfectly transplanted this system to Roy!"

“Bayern need to be careful! If Hitzfeld still uses the old 4-4-2 formation, relying on the combination of Ballack and Ze Roberto on the wings and in the center, we all know their right-back Willy (Sagnol), speed is his weakness! Roy will replicate tonight's massacre of Mendy on him! The most terrifying thing about Deschamps is that he can always turn a flash of genius into a victory for the whole team!”

Guest Papin: "Morientes' role as a target man has been seriously underestimated! He only had one shot in this game, but completed five key passes. Look at this attack, he deliberately drew away two center-backs, creating a 1v1 space for Roy against Mendy - that's the wisdom of a top striker."

Guest Alain Giresse: "Paris' problem is tactical rigidity! When Pauleta came on in the 60th minute, their midfield completely fell apart. Look at Rocchi's position—he was supposed to be protecting the defense, but he was fooled by Gallardo's feint and lost his balance!"

Monaco's official announcement on January 31, 2004.

“We are delighted to announce the official signing of Brazilian right-back Maicon Douglas Sisenando to AS Monaco. The 22-year-old prodigy has passed his medical and will wear the number 23 jersey, becoming a member of the first team immediately.”

Maicon, who was originally scheduled to join in the summer (note: in real history, he transferred to Monaco in the summer of 2004), was brought forward to the winter transfer window due to Deschamps' strong request, which required an additional payment.

The club's technical director revealed: "We had our sights set on him during the Copa Libertadores, but his outstanding performance in the Champions League this season has led the club to decide to accelerate the rebuilding of the right flank."

Maicon is known in Brazil as a "modern full-back who excels in both attack and defense".

In the program, Blanco analyzed: "This is a piece prepared for the Champions League! His explosiveness can make up for Givet's lack of speed, and against Bayern, he can even form a super-speed combination on the right wing with Giuly."

Roy sat on the sofa in his apartment, casually flipping through the day's L'Équipe newspaper, when he suddenly saw the news of Maicon's signing on the transfer page.

He put down his newspaper and whistled softly.

"Six months ahead of schedule," he muttered to himself.

In his past life, the Brazilian winger who shone brightly at Inter Milan was now going to be his teammate.

Roy remembers very clearly how Maicon dominated the right flank during his peak.

He's as fast as a cheetah, and as hard as a rock when defending.

It can both crush defenses like a tank and deliver precise crosses.

He walked to the window and looked in the direction of the training base.

Deschamps has really gone all out this time.

Givet is a good player, but against Bayern's attacks down the left flank, they really need a fresh force like Maicon.

My phone vibrated; it was a text message from Juli: "Did you see the news? The right flank is about to take off!"

Roy smiled and replied, "Get ready to receive his crosses."

what does this mean?
Roy knew very well that Monaco was no longer satisfied with dominating Ligue 1; the Champions League was their real goal.

Maicon's signing is a signal from the club to all of Europe: we are ready.

He picked up the soccer ball and gently juggled it a few times.

With three weeks to go before the match against Bayern, it's time to get to know his new teammate.

Excerpt from "Seven Years of Miracles":
Actually, I knew the Golden Boy award would be mine before the Champions League group stage ended.

It's not arrogance, just simple arithmetic—when you've graced the cover of France Football for several months in a row, when L'Équipe reporters start chasing you for your acceptance speech, and when the number of fans gathered outside the training ground is three times that of the previous month, some things don't need an official announcement.

The day before the award ceremony, Deschamps threw a fax of Tuttosport in my face while I was putting on my football boots.

"Stop pretending," his lips twitched, "you already guessed it, didn't you?"

The words "Golden Boy 2003" on the paper were beautiful, gleaming gold.

I stared at it for two seconds, and suddenly remembered the boy playing football on the concrete in the suburbs of Boulogne.

Back then, I played football simply because I enjoyed it; I never thought about any awards.

(Yes, I don't deny at all that I wanted to win this award. But I didn't specifically strive to be the "first winner." My goal was never to "become the winner," but to have people say, "Roy is the most deserving winner." There's a world of difference between the two.)
The fax paper was slightly warm in my hand.

I remember that after training yesterday, I did an extra 200 shots by myself.

It wasn't because I knew there was an award to be given out; maybe it was just because of that one-on-one chance I missed against Lyon.

The trophy is heavy, much heavier than I expected.

When a reporter from Tuttosport handed it to me, the flashbulbs went off like it was daytime.

I heard someone in the audience say, "Look, this is the first Golden Boy in history."

But what I want them to say is, "Look, this is Roy."

I know that from this moment on, no one will ever call me the "new Henry," the "new Zidane," or the "new Ronaldo" again. This isn't arrogance; it's that I want to stand shoulder to shoulder with them, and even surpass them. Just as they want to surpass themselves and their predecessors, that's what competitive sports are all about.

Durk later asked me, "What were you thinking when you received the award?"

I told him, "I think this is just the beginning."

I don't want people to say "Roy was the first winner," I want them to say "Roy's first individual award was the Golden Boy Award."

This is different.

It's only a matter of time before the first winner takes the stage, and the first award represents the starting point.

I want to make this starting point the beginning of a legend.

[Druuk's Notes: January 27, 2004]

As the press officer gestured for us to leave, I saw Roy do something strange: he turned the trophy upside down to check its base.

"What are you looking for?" I asked.

Roy didn't answer, so I could only use my imagination: "He was confirming whether this gilded fairy tale was as hard as the slums of Boulogne."

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Arsenal have made an offer to sign Feyenoord's 20-year-old star Robin van Persie, and after their initial bid was rejected, they are preparing a second offer. Feyenoord are asking for £450 million, and the player himself is eager to move to the Premier League. The Dutch U21 international has scored 5 goals in 13 appearances this season and is considered a rising star on par with Rafael van der Vaart and Arjen Robben.

—The Daily Telegraph

(I'll be returning to Hangzhou tonight, and will resume normal updates tomorrow.)

(End of this chapter)