When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 216 A Glimpse into the World of Fame and Fortune: The Life of a 20-Year-Old Football Prodigy

On October 3, 2004, Old Trafford Stadium witnessed a memorable afternoon.

弗格森爵士终于找到了曼联前场的最优解，他的4-4-2新阵型在这场3-1战胜米德尔斯堡的比赛中展现出了惊人的威力。

In the 27th minute, Van Nistelrooy cleverly laid the ball off on the edge of the penalty area, and Ronaldinho calmly slotted it home to give Manchester United the lead.

This goal perfectly showcased the essence of the new formation, with Van Nistelrooy acting as the pivot and Ronaldinho as the free man looking for opportunities.

In the 67th minute of the second half, Rooney dropped back into midfield to receive the ball and delivered a brilliant through pass, allowing Van Nistelrooy to break the offside trap and score one-on-one, extending the lead to 2-0.

This goal demonstrates Rooney's role as a second striker in linking up play.

In the 81st minute, Ronaldo made a high-speed breakthrough on the right wing and delivered a low cross. Ronaldinho received the ball at the edge of the penalty area and suddenly stopped and changed direction, flicking the ball with his heel to get past the first defender. Then, he dribbled past two defenders with a croquet ball.

Facing the goalkeeper's block, he curled a shot from an almost zero-degree angle, the ball bypassing the goalkeeper's fingertips and flying straight into the far corner.

This artistic goal, scored under tight defense, sealed the score at 3-0.

Although Middlesbrough pulled one back in the 88th minute, it was too late.

This victory signifies that Ferguson has finally found the instructions for his new formation.

Manchester United's attacking line has a very clear division of labor, with each player fulfilling their role while cooperating with each other, making it difficult for opponents to defend against.

Van Nistelrooy was like a goal-scoring machine, always positioned in the penalty area waiting to pounce on the ball and score. His strong physique also allowed him to hold off defenders and create chances for his teammates.

Rooney is an all-around player who often drops back to midfield to receive the ball, using his vision and passing to link up attacks, and occasionally unleashing a powerful long-range shot.

Although Cristiano Ronaldo is nominally a right forward, he doesn't stick to the wing. Instead, he freely switches positions, sometimes cutting inside to shoot, sometimes dribbling down the wing, leaving defenders completely bewildered.

The most crucial player was Ronaldinho. He was like a magician on the field, moving freely on the left flank of the attacking third. He could both break through the defense with the ball and deliver a deadly pass, allowing Van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo to score easily.

These four players—one responsible for finishing, one for linking up play, one for explosive attacks, and one for organizing—work together seamlessly, making Manchester United's attack incredibly sharp.

Manchester United's attacking force has officially set sail, and fans have reason to expect a spectacular season.

Ferguson appeared very confident when discussing the team's performance after the game.

他提到积分榜上切尔西8战全胜积24分领跑，阿森纳7胜1平积22分紧随其后，而曼联4胜3平1负15分暂列第四，落后埃弗顿1分。

Ferguson bluntly stated, "Chelsea have indeed had an unprecedentedly good start, eight consecutive wins is remarkable. They have several players in red-hot form, constantly scoring goals, which is something to be wary of. But frankly, I think their attacking line is already stretched thin. After Drogba's injury, the expensive players they bought may not all be suitable. Last year's crazy spending spree, and continuing to throw money around this year, isn't always a good thing. Right now, they're relying entirely on Roy for goals, and if Roy's form declines, Chelsea may only have defense left."

“Our players are mostly recovered. Rio has proven his worth since his return. Manchester United’s defense has needed him for a long time, but the wait has been worthwhile. Rooney is in great form, contributing three goals and one assist in just two games. Cristiano and Van Nistelrooy are also consistently scoring or assisting; they are both world-class players. Ronaldinho’s creativity is unparalleled. If he can focus a little more, I think he is one of the best players in the Premier League.”

Mentioning the crucial home game against Arsenal in the tenth round, Ferguson's eyes lit up: "Arsenal haven't lost this season? Their unbeaten record is still going strong? If you ask me, if there's one team best suited to end their unbeaten run, it's us, Manchester United. Old Trafford is where miracles happen, and my lads are ready."

When asked by reporters about Ronaldinho's recent frequent visits to nightclubs and his association with several prostitutes, as well as his agent's brother's public accusations that Manchester United "disrespects players" and that "the club is a liar," he responded...

Ferguson waved his hand to interrupt the question: "These off-field gossips and baseless accusations are not worth discussing. We only focus on the players' performance in training and matches; the club will handle other matters according to the rules."

A major piece of news broke before the match: American businessman Glazer was prepared to spend £6.5 million to acquire Manchester United.

This second-largest shareholder, who already holds a 19.2% stake in Manchester United, specifically commissioned Morgan Stanley to develop an acquisition plan.

The news immediately caused an uproar among Manchester United fans.

Many die-hard fans have publicly expressed their opposition, saying they will thwart Glazer's takeover plan just like they did when they ousted media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

Fans have begun organizing protests, vowing to defend their beloved club.

Seeing that Abramovich's team performance improved after he bought Chelsea, and that his own net worth increased from over $20 billion to over $100 billion, many wealthy people became envious.

Premier League clubs are now highly sought after, and everyone wants to buy a team to experience the thrill of buying one.

Previously, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had considered buying Liverpool and offered a high price, but the deal ultimately fell through.

However, none of this dampened the enthusiasm of the wealthy, who continued to wave their checkbooks and line up to pour money into Premier League clubs.

Manchester United, as the most successful club in the Premier League, has always been the envy of investors. However, Manchester United's success has scared away many shrewd investors.

Ambitious individuals like Abramovich prefer to build a team from scratch rather than take over an established powerhouse.

On the morning of October 4, 2004, Roy's manager, Claire, arrived at his home at the agreed time to report on the progress of preparations for the new AETHOS sports accessories brand store.

When she pushed open the door, she was surprised to find Roy wearing an apron, frying eggs in the kitchen, and brewing coffee on the stove.

"Didn't you call the chef today?"

Claire asked, somewhat surprised.

Roy flipped the frying pan without looking up: "It's more relaxing to make your own breakfast on your day off."

He deftly placed the fried egg into a white porcelain plate. "Let's eat and talk, the coffee will be ready soon."

The edges of the egg white were slightly browned and crispy, while the yolk was still trembling and soft-boiled.

Two perfectly toasted slices of whole wheat bread were stacked next to it, the butter on the surface slowly melting and seeping into the bread's pores.

The sizzling bacon curled up on the edge of the plate, oil still glistening.

"You're such a professional cook?"

Claire couldn't resist poking the tempting soft-boiled egg with her fork, and the yolk immediately oozed out and soaked into the toast.

The two began a brief breakfast meeting at the kitchen island, with Roy spreading butter on toast while Claire reported on the progress of the new store's renovation and marketing plans.

Morning light streamed through the window onto the bar counter, and the aroma of coffee mingled with the smell of fried bacon, adding a touch of casual home to the business meeting.

AETHOS now has seven stores in France.

There are two stores in the busiest neighborhoods in Paris. The store in Monaco is located in France, but it is right next to the Monaco border. The store in Marseille faces the Old Port.

In addition, AETHOS signs can also be seen in major cities such as Lyon and Toulouse.

The decoration style of each store is very consistent, and the black and gold color scheme of the storefront is particularly eye-catching, making passers-by unable to help but take a second look.

They are now preparing to open two new stores in London at once, which is quite a big move.

AETHOS has now partnered with many well-known gyms in France and secured orders for sports equipment from several schools, with their logo appearing on everything from wristbands and knee pads to sports backpacks.

After sponsoring several high-profile amateur cycling events, their quick-drying clothing and sports recovery kits also became popular.

Despite the rapid increase in brand awareness, Roy surprisingly did not rush to open new stores, which even Claire did not expect him to be so patient.

Roy has his own plans: physical stores are just a facade; what's more important now is to seize the emerging online market.

He focused his efforts on several emerging e-commerce platforms at the time, such as eBay, Amazon UK, Amazon France, Cdiscount in France, and Otto in Germany.

In his words, "Whoever can sell well online now will be able to survive in the future."

The spokesperson for AETHOS's women's sportswear line, THALIA, is still Roy's ex-girlfriend, Leticia Costa. Although the two have broken up, they maintain a good relationship and haven't had any falling out.

Roy thought renewing the contract was a great deal. Letizia was well-known in France, had a healthy and positive image, and was particularly suitable for promoting a sports brand. After she became the spokesperson, the THALIA series sold exceptionally well, with many female customers buying it specifically because of her.

Roy reasoned that since the collaboration was going well, there was no need to change the spokesperson, since replacing the spokesperson would require rebuilding market trust.

Several products launched in this series were extremely popular, such as hot and cold compress gels for use after yoga and Pilates, a fascia roller set for relaxing muscles, non-slip toe socks, and climbing gloves and sports waist packs designed specifically for women. All of these became bestsellers.

Riding on Roy's immense popularity in the Champions League and the European Championship, this collection sold like hotcakes in France, becoming the best-selling women's sportswear brand.

Nike has long had its eye on this hot commodity, and has mentioned several times, both openly and covertly, its desire to acquire AETHOS, even if it's just to take a stake.

The problem is that these sports accessories are neither Nike's main business nor do they use their patented technology. In addition, Roy refused to budge, so Nike could only watch helplessly, unable to do anything about it.

Roy is well aware of his enormous commercial value in the football world, and Nike will not jeopardize their partnership for such peripheral business.

But he also understood that as AETHOS's business rapidly expanded, when its revenue surpassed Nike's earnings from Roy in the football equipment sector, it would inevitably attract Nike's close attention.

Rather than being caught off guard, it's better to plan ahead and proactively establish strategic partnerships with Nike in certain product categories to jointly develop the sports accessories market and achieve mutual benefit.

At the same time, Roy also hopes to extend his business reach to peripheral categories that Nike has not previously focused on through this collaboration.

He plans to work with Nike to develop the women's sports market, particularly yoga and Pilates-related equipment and apparel, areas in which Nike has some involvement but limited investment.

Through this collaboration, Roy can leverage Nike's resources and distribution channels while filling market gaps and expanding the brand's reach.

This strategy not only avoids direct competition with Nike, but also opens up new growth opportunities for AETHOS.

Claire shrugged. "Nike's reaction to that yoga collaboration was lukewarm. They said they'd give it a try, but they're clearly more interested in getting us to stick with our old stuff like athletic knee braces and resistance bands. After all, those categories don't have much of a technical barrier to entry, and their current success is all thanks to your brand name. Their real plan is either to acquire the entire brand, or at least take a controlling stake, and then have you continue as their spokesperson. To put it bluntly, they want to use your influence to completely dominate this market."

She opened her notebook: "The vice president's exact words were: 'The women's yoga market is too chaotic. Why don't we join forces to take over the rehabilitation training market first?'"

Roy laughed out loud after hearing this: "They still have old-fashioned views, thinking that yoga is just a pastime for housewives to pass the time? Our focus is on 'living with power.' Yoga is not just soft stretching; it's a weapon that empowers you to take control of your life. Every girl who buys our yoga pants is investing in a better version of herself."

Claire listened, completely stunned.

The terms "female power," "she-economy," and "urban heroine" that Roy spouted were all incredibly abstract, and her final line, "We are born to be mountains," almost made this real career woman choke on her coffee.

But upon calming down and thinking about it, although these words sound like gibberish, if they were actually used in advertising, they would definitely resonate with the hearts of urban white-collar workers.

These days, women fall for this.

It's a win-win business that not only makes money but also makes customers feel like they're "living their own lives" by buying the product.

"Becoming truly powerful is certainly difficult, but selling things doesn't have to be so straightforward. Just make customers believe that buying your product will make them cool, confident, and the kind of person they want to be. That's how you make a sale. The truth doesn't matter; the feeling is what matters."

Roy leaned back on the sofa, a "I've discovered a new world" smile on his lips:
“This is called emotional value—women aren’t buying yoga pants, they’re buying the confidence to say ‘I’m the best’; men aren’t buying gym protective gear, they’re buying the illusion that ‘I can keep going for another ten years.’ What we’re selling is that feeling of self-satisfaction.”

Claire raised the corner of her mouth slightly, glanced at Roy for a couple more seconds, and then casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she continued flipping through the documents.

“Then I will continue to negotiate with Nike. The terms are simple: they will handle the sales channels and promotion, and we will handle the design and production. They will take 60% of the profits, and we will keep 40%, but the AETHOS brand must be completely independent.”

Roy stuffed the last piece of toast into his mouth and wiped his hands:

“Actually, we can go it alone, but the contract must specify that we are allowed to enter new categories such as yoga protective gear. If Nike is afraid of even this kind of competition, it would not have been able to achieve the scale it has today.”

Claire stood up, picked up her briefcase, and smiled. "I'll be going now. I have to catch my flight to the United States."

Just as she was about to turn around, she suddenly pulled a small black gift box from her handbag and gently placed it on the table: "I almost forgot. Happy birthday, boss."

Roy glanced at the calendar; it was October 4th. Only then did he realize that his birthday was the day after tomorrow.

Claire had already reached the door when she turned back and winked at Roy: "Boss, have some patience. A good gift deserves a glass of whiskey before you open it."

She gently closed the door, the crisp sound of her high heels fading into the distance.

Roy lifted the velvet box lid, and a matte black Montblanc fountain pen lay quietly inside.

The pen cap is engraved with a line of very fine Latin: “Non omnis moriar” (I will never die completely).

He ran his fingertips over the line from the poem by the ancient Roman poet Horace. Even his birthday presents were a reminder to him: to be the greatest player of all time, to build the most enduring brand, you need to have three times the patience of an average person when unwrapping a gift.

A major upset occurred in the final match of La Liga's sixth round, with Real Madrid suffering a 0-1 home defeat to Deportivo La Coruña. The Galacticos launched a relentless attack throughout the game but failed to find the net, conceding a goal on the counter-attack and suffering their first loss of the season. This defeat further exposes Real Madrid's lack of attacking firepower and pushes them down the league table.

Real Madrid suffered their worst goal drought in club history: Owen's start couldn't save the day, Morientes came off the bench but failed to contribute, and they lost 0-1 at home to Deportivo La Coruña. Despite Owen receiving applause from the fans, the Ballon d'Or winner failed to score in 52 minutes. Morientes missed two good headers. Real Madrid have only scored 4 goals in six league matches, setting a new club record for their worst attacking performance.

Florentino Pérez watched the entire match with a somber expression, while Spanish Defense Minister Pound witnessed this embarrassing defeat firsthand.

AS commentator Roccello was merciless in his criticism of Owen:

"The question now is not who will replace Ronaldo, but whether the Ballon d'Or winner or the Silver Boot winner should play."

"Look at Owen on the field, he doesn't even have half of Roy's killer instinct! The sharpest weapon in our youth academy for the past twenty years has been pushed out by our own people. Roy has Real Madrid blood in his veins, he knows how to play under the Bernabéu lights, he was born to wear the white jersey and wreak havoc on Champions League nights. But now? Because of the arrogance and stupidity of some people, we have lost a warrior who truly understands the soul of Real Madrid. Chelsea has struck gold, while we can only use second-rate strikers, kicking soft balls that pose no threat!"

“Owen isn’t Henry, he’s not Reyes, he’s not Totti, he’s not Drogba, he’s not Adriano; he’s not Raul, he’s not Zidane. In short, he’s not a Galácticos. Benitez must have been celebrating with champagne behind closed doors when he sold Owen. Owen has contributed nothing to Real Madrid. Not only that, he’s robbed Morientes of the time and passion that should have been his. This is his inevitable punishment. Scoring only 4 goals in 6 league games, the worst record in history belongs to the current Real Madrid forward line.”

"Owen's Ballon d'Or? Looking back now, it's a joke! We missed out on two Frenchmen who could have truly changed the team—Roy and Vieira. One was a natural leader, the other an unyielding defender. Then, for the sake of appearances, we forced the selection of that flashy but ineffective English flop! Now, Roy is about to win the Ballon d'Or, which will be the most undisputed one in the last decade. And our 'Mr. Ballon d'Or'? He's like a headless fly on the field, unable to even muster a decent shot!"

With the international break approaching, France will face Ireland on October 9th and Cyprus on the 13th.

However, Roy decided to take a short break first.

He wants to throw a nice birthday party to relax before the two crucial games.

After all, even the most important matches have to wait until after his birthday.

However, Chelsea's public relations director made an urgent call to Roy to discuss the recent public conflict between Mutu and Mourinho.

During the phone call, the public relations manager emphasized, "If the media asks you questions about this matter, please be sure to respond carefully."

Roy immediately expressed his understanding, responding, "I understand the sensitivity involved and will be mindful of the appropriate level of discretion."

Romanian striker Adrian Mutu publicly accused head coach Jose Mourinho of lying about his injury to prevent him from representing the Romanian national team.

"My injury has fully recovered, and Coach Mourinho's statement is a complete lie."

Mutu made this clear at the press conference.

Despite the advice of the club's medical team, the Romanian international has set off to return home to prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

This matter has drawn serious attention from FIFA.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter issued a statement strongly condemning clubs for obstructing players from playing for their national teams.

"Representing the country in competitions is a player's basic right, and no club has the right to obstruct it for improper reasons."

According to sources within the club, Chelsea's management has decided to put Mutu up for sale once the winter transfer window opens.

The club plans to use the former Serie A striker as part of a deal to bring in Atlético Madrid's Spanish starlet, Fernando Torres.

The 20-year-old Torres has already made a name for himself in La Liga, and his outstanding performance of scoring 42 goals in three seasons has attracted the attention of many top clubs, including Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Meanwhile, the French team is also facing a personnel crisis.

With captain Vieira suspended, and Trezeguet, Giuly, and Pedretti all sidelined due to injury, coach Domenech faced a difficult task in selecting players.

On October 5, Domenech admitted at the Clairefontaine training ground that he had indeed considered recalling Anelka before announcing the new national team roster.

This Manchester City striker has been out of the national team for two and a half years due to a falling out with former manager Santini.

However, due to Trezeguet's injury in Serie A last weekend, Domenech ultimately chose Marseille striker Luindula as a replacement.

“I want to find a striker with a similar style to Trezeguet,” Domenech explained. “Although Anelka is very good, I have already chosen Cissé this time, their characteristics are too similar.”

With Vieira suspended, the selection of the French team captain has become a focus of media attention.

At the press conference, when asked about this, Domenech said meaningfully, "We have many leader players, but some are born with the qualities to wear the armband."

These words have been widely interpreted as hinting that 19-year-old Roy might be appointed to a critical role.

If this comes true, he will set a record as the youngest captain in the history of the French national team.

Finally, under persistent questioning from reporters, Domenech admitted: "Yes, Roy will wear the captain's armband. Age is never a measure of leadership; the maturity and responsibility he has shown on the field deserve this honor."

"Although he is only 19 years old, to be precise, he will be 20 years old in one day. Happy birthday in advance to Roy."

The press box erupted in good-natured laughter and applause. "But as I said, look at his record—the goals, assists, and trophies—they speak louder than any age statistic. This young man has the heart of a thirty-year-old veteran, and the armband is perfectly fitting on his arm."

The reporters stirred, their pens scratching across the paper.

Domenech suddenly laughed: "My God, the French team captain who just turned twenty? It sounds like a fantasy, but the most beautiful stories on the football field are often written by young people like him."

这一决定将使19岁的罗伊成为法国队史上最年轻的正式队长，打破此前由埃蒂安-儒尔德保持的纪录，他在1910年4月以20岁3个月的年龄成为法国队队长。

法国队史第二年轻的队长则是后来的拉斐尔-瓦拉内，他在2014年10月对阵亚美尼亚的比赛中以21岁5个月21天的年龄佩戴队长袖标。

That evening, FIFA announced the 35-man shortlist for the 2004 FIFA World Player of the Year award, with the English Premier League emerging as the biggest winner, having 14 players selected.

Roy is the biggest favorite for this year's FIFA World Player of the Year, which is perfectly reasonable.

Look at his record over the past year: In the 2003-04 season, he led Monaco to a treble of the Champions League, Ligue 1 and the French Cup, and became the top scorer in the Champions League with 17 goals; then in the 2004 European Championship, he helped the French team win the championship with 10 goals and won the Golden Boot again.

Such an achievement of "double crown and double Golden Boot" is extremely rare in the history of football.

What's even more remarkable is that he won the inaugural European Golden Boy award as early as 2003, when experts predicted that he had a bright future.

Now, just one year later, he has proven himself with real championships and goals.

From Monaco to the French national team, Roy has always been the undisputed core figure.

It would be strange if someone with this kind of performance didn't win the FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Chelsea has three players on the shortlist: Roy, Lampard, and Drogba.

Real Madrid's England duo, Beckham and Owen, are also on the list.

Two Arsenal players were selected: Henry and his French compatriot Pires.

Manchester United's top picks are Ronaldinho and rising star Rooney, along with Van Nistelrooy and Giggs.

Gerrard's inclusion in the shortlist salvaged some pride for Liverpool's midfield.

Real Madrid has the most members on the list, which proves that the "Galácticos" title is well-deserved.

Real Madrid players who made the list alongside Beckham and Owen include Raul, Figo, Carlos, Ronaldo, and Zidane.

Barcelona has three players on the shortlist: Deco, Eto'o, and Larsson.

In addition, Czech international Baros, who shone brightly at the European Championship, and Zagrekis, who was in excellent form and helped Greece reach the final and win the Champions League runner-up title, were also on the list.

The 21-person shortlist for FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, also released by FIFA, also includes many top contenders.

These candidates were nominated by FIFA’s Technical and Development Committee, and the final winner will be announced on December 20 at FIFA’s Football Department in Zurich, Switzerland.

The votes of national team coaches and captains will determine who will lift the trophy, the highest individual honor in football.

On October 6, 2004, Roy celebrated his 20th birthday at Claridge's Hotel in London.

All the Chelsea players who weren't on the national team came, including Arsenal's Pedretti, Juventus' Giuly, and Trezeguet.

Besides friends from the football circle, many celebrities and friends from other fields also came.

Roy's family also came to celebrate his birthday.

His younger brother, Luo Wen, who was training at a basketball youth academy in Madrid, and his mother, Chen Lan, who had been taking care of Luo Wen in Spain, were specially brought to London.

With Roy's sister Romy, who lives in London with him, the whole family was reunited for once.

At his mother's birthday dinner, Roy prepared a special surprise for her.

A high-end Suzhou embroidery cheongsam custom-made from Suzhou, China. This cheongsam is made of the finest silk fabric and was hand-embroidered by an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage over three months. The delicate peony pattern on the lapel gleams softly under the light.

When Chen Lan appeared in this cheongsam, the guests present couldn't help but admire her.

Roy specially arranged for a photographer to take a series of photos of his mother, saying he would put them in the living room of their new home.

“Mom, you look even better in this than those celebrities,” Roy said with a smile, putting his arm around his mother’s shoulder.

This heartfelt gift made this usually low-key mother the center of attention on her son's important day.

At Roy's birthday dinner, two impressive gifts caused a minor incident.

Prince Albert of Monaco sent a royal envoy with an exquisite gift box containing a pair of diamond-encrusted cufflinks engraved with the Monaco royal coat of arms.

Even more eye-catching was the gift from Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

His trusted aide, Marina Granovskaia, personally presented him with a limited-edition Patek Philippe watch with the inscription "To the future Ballon d'Or winner" on the dial.

The gift drew exclamations of admiration from the guests, but Roy could only enjoy it in private.

As a Rolex ambassador, he smiled helplessly and handed the watch to his assistant for safekeeping.

Chen Lan stood in the banquet hall, looking at Roy who was surrounded by a crowd of people.

Under the flash of the lights, those faces that we usually only see on television.

Hollywood stars, football superstars, and business tycoons all surrounded her son with smiles, vying to toast and exchange pleasantries with him.

When Prince Albert's diamond-encrusted cufflinks and Abramovich's Patek Philippe watch were presented one after another, Chen Lan's tears finally fell silently.

She remembered Roy practicing his ball barefoot on the concrete floor in that cramped apartment in Boulogne.

She remembered the first time he put on his professional team uniform, how he nervously tugged at the hem and asked her, "Mom, does it look good?"

Now, her son stands at the top of the world, attracting the attention of royalty and billionaires.

Those once unattainable figures now seem to rely on Roy's brilliance.

At that moment, she truly understood what it meant to "become a mother because of her son."

As the party progressed, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

Roy, carrying a glass of champagne, moved among the guests, exchanging pleasantries.

Many celebrities also brought their friends to say hello, hoping to take the opportunity to get to know this rising star in the football world.

Roy responded to each question with a smile.

The world of fame and fortune has its own rules. In such an environment, those who can enter are all of high caliber, and naturally, they cannot be neglected.

Orlando Bloom and Jude Law arrived together, accompanied by Keira Knightley, who had just risen to fame with "Pirates of the Caribbean".

Meanwhile, several members of Black Eyed Peas were having a lively conversation with Roy.

In the corner, Amy Winehouse, who had just released her debut album last year, stood a little reserved. Justin Timberlake, seeing this, took the initiative to lead her over to clink glasses with Roy.

The banquet hall was like this all evening.

Big stars bring along little stars, familiar faces introduce unfamiliar faces, but no matter who it is, Roy maintains a polite smile.

The party atmosphere reached its climax when Ronaldo and his new girlfriend Cicarelli made a surprise appearance.

The Brazilian football legend, dressed in a casual suit, walked into the banquet hall hand in hand with his supermodel girlfriend, immediately causing a stir.

When the Brazilian football legend entered the banquet hall, cheers and applause immediately erupted.

Roy quickly went up to Ronaldo and gave him a warm hug.

"Everyone."

Roy turned to the guests and said loudly, "This man doesn't need any introduction. In the world of football, the name 'Ronaldo' says it all."

He paused, then added, "I've always said that on the pitch, Ronaldo will always be my teacher."

These words made Ronaldo smile broadly. He patted Roy on the shoulder and said a few words of blessing in Portuguese.

The sight of two legendary shooters from different eras standing together prompted photographers on site to frantically press their shutters.

This unexpected appearance together undoubtedly became the most precious moment of the night.

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward when Ronaldo warmly invited Roy to his wedding on January 2nd.

With his arm around Roy's shoulder, Da Luo announced to everyone, "My wedding absolutely must have you, my little brother, as a witness!"

The guests applauded and cheered, and flashbulbs went off at the two of them.

Roy wore a polite smile, but inwardly he frowned.

Those who are younger brothers can be treated like younger brothers by everyone.

He knew Ronaldo's romantic history all too well. His first marriage was marred by infidelity, which caused a huge scandal (Melane was involved with Seedorf). This time, his whirlwind marriage to Cicarelli was so dramatic that people in the industry were betting that it would only last a few months.

In fact, it was a whirlwind marriage and divorce, lasting only three months.

Flying from London to Brazil just to attend a wedding destined to be short-lived? He simply couldn't muster any enthusiasm.

Roy sighed inwardly, but maintained a polite smile on his face.

He raised his champagne glass and clinked it with Ronaldo's: "Congratulations, Ronaldo! I'll definitely adjust my schedule and come over to share in your joy."

It would be nice to treat it as a vacation in Brazil, and take my family to the beach in Rio for a few days to relax.

Giuly appeared beside him at some point, and under the guise of clinking glasses, leaned close to his ear and said, "The boss (Deschamps) asked me to pass on a message to you: it's time to ease things between you and Zidane. You can argue on the field as you please, but don't let things really fall apart off the field."

Roy's fingers tightened slightly as he remembered that on his birthday last year, Deschamps had specially brought his senior teammates from the 98 World Cup-winning team to support him.

"Please thank the boss for me."

"Actually, it's mostly the media stirring things up between Zidane and me."

He recalled the undercurrents in the locker room during the European Championship. Zidane originally planned to play until the 2006 World Cup, but ultimately decided to retire early, with another plan hidden behind it.

Zidane once said that choosing to retire after the European Championship was a "strategic retreat," hoping to maintain his "big brother" status through the checks and balances between Roy and Henry.

Despite his strong abilities, Roy is still young and unable to fully assume leadership responsibilities.

Roy's performance at the European Championship shocked everyone.

He almost single-handedly carried the French team forward, using goals and victories to declare to the world: "This team needs me."

This assertive stance put Zidane in an awkward position.

The media began relentlessly pressing Zidane: "Didn't you say you were going to retire? Why aren't you leaving yet?"

Many people are speculating: Did he see the rise of his younger brother Roy and have the idea of ​​fighting for another World Cup?
After all, Zidane is already a midfield maestro of all time. If he could win the World Cup again in 2006, then the title of "King of European Football" would be truly solidified.

The problem is, Roy wasn't planning to give him that chance.

While Henry was still hesitantly reminiscing about Zidane and debating whether to stand up to Roy and fight for control of the locker room, becoming Zidane's successor, Roy had already swiftly taken over the core position of the French team.

He laid his cards on the table with the coaching staff: "Either build the team around me and let me play comfortably, or we'll fight to the bitter end, and the loser gets out."

His stance was clear: the coach could be changed, and veterans like Henry and Pires could leave, but the future of the French team must be in his hands.

Interestingly, although Henry verbally expressed his longing for Zidane, his actions betrayed him; his personality actually made him a suitable assistant to Roy.

Whenever a reporter asks him about the new core of the French team, he always brings up Zidane: "Zidane's position is irreplaceable."

Henry is a slippery character; if he really had to choose between Zidane and Roy, he would definitely side with Roy without hesitation.

After all, the championship trophy is much more tangible than mere words of stubbornness.

If Roy really transfers to Arsenal, Henry will probably be laughing in his sleep.

At most, they'd have to feign a complaint, saying, "This kid is too selfish!"

If a reporter asks, he'll surely say with a straight face, "Our Arsenal is invincible, not because of anyone coming. Roy just added a touch of color."

But Zidane is different. He is a true legend. Why would he lower himself to serve as an assistant to a rising star he has watched rise to prominence?

He couldn't bear to look like this.

Roy and Ronaldo were chatting in a corner when several British actresses awkwardly approached, saying they wanted to take a photo with Ronaldo, but their eyes kept glancing at Roy.

Da Luo happily posed for the photo, even winking at Luo Yi: "You're doing pretty well, kid."

Roy didn't respond to the question, but went straight to Real Madrid's recent situation: "I heard you lost to Deportivo? How's Zidane doing lately?"

Real Madrid in the 2004-2005 season had three main problems: First, the squad was top-heavy, with superstars like Ronaldo, Raul, and Zidane piling up in the attacking line, but the defense was aging and the midfield lacked defensive players, resulting in an imbalance between attack and defense.

Secondly, there are prominent conflicts in the locker room, with star players acting independently and lacking teamwork.

Third, the tactics were chaotic, relying too much on the individual abilities of star players, and lacking an effective organization and defensive system, resulting in performance falling short of expectations.

Capello may have a knack for defensive coaching, but even the most skilled cook can't make a meal without ingredients.

Without a reliable defensive midfielder and with new signing Samuel struggling to find his form, even their strongest defensive system couldn't hold up.

Their attack was completely disorganized, relying solely on a few big-name players in the front line to make haphazard plays, turning the Galacticos into a hodgepodge.

Ronaldo lowered his voice: "Actually, we all know where the problem lies. Without me, the attacking third lacks a decisive striker. If you were here..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by another female celebrity who came to ask for a photo.

Roy didn't respond to that.

After the birthday party, Roy and some of the guests moved to the Little Tate nightclub to continue the celebration.

As they walked out of the hotel, the reporters who had been waiting for them immediately surrounded them, and their flashbulbs went off in an instant.

"Roy! Who do you think will be this year's FIFA World Player of the Year?"

"You're the frontrunner, what's your opinion?"

The reporters bombarded the reporters with questions.

Just as Roy was about to answer, Ronaldo, who was standing next to him, suddenly laughed, patted him on the shoulder, pointed at him, and said, "Who else could it be but him?"

This statement instantly ignited the crowd, and all the cameras were focused on this pair of football legends, one old and one new.

Seeing this, Roy readily chimed in, "Even Ronaldo says I deserve the award, so who else but me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of reporters' camera shutters clicked even more rapidly.

This confident yet humorous answer, coupled with Ronaldo's strong support, undoubtedly added fuel to the fire in Roy's race for the FIFA World Player of the Year.

The two exchanged a smile, and under the escort of bodyguards, got into the car, leaving the reporters still savoring this wonderful moment.

(End of this chapter)