When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 230 Well-deserved
In a post-match interview, Wenger appeared calm, his eyes showing slight fatigue but maintaining his usual composure.

He placed his hands lightly on the table, and his voice was deep and steady as he answered reporters' questions:
"Today we lost an important game to a better team, which is part of football. A 56-game unbeaten run is a remarkable achievement, but records always come to an end."

"The players played very well in the first half, and Henry scored two beautiful goals. But we made some mistakes in the second half and gave Chelsea too much space."

“Especially Roy’s goal, none of our five defenders could stop him, you have to admit that was the decisive moment.”

"As for the chances Henry missed, that's football; even the best strikers miss some clear-cut chances. Chelsea is a strong team, and they deserved today's victory. Now we need to look forward and focus on the games ahead. It's regrettable that the record was broken, but more importantly, the team needs to continue to improve. This defeat will not change our plans for the future; we will learn from our mistakes."

A reporter asked, "Does this defeat mean Arsenal are out of the title race?"

Wenger replied: "It is indeed very difficult. After 17 rounds, we have 36 points, Chelsea has 49 points, and Manchester United has 35 points with one game in hand. If Manchester United wins against Fulham tomorrow, they will be 2 points ahead of us."

"It's still mathematically possible, but in reality..."

"When the gap reaches 13 points, you have to be honest with yourself. Chelsea have shown championship-level consistency."

Wenger continued, "Of course, we will not give up on any competition. The Champions League and domestic cups remain our top priorities. But as for the league, we must be realistic now; securing Champions League qualification for next season is the more practical task at hand."

"This team still has the strength and determination to compete for other championships. We will take every competition seriously and give our all for the fans and the club."

Wenger's words caused a brief stir among the reporters present, but they quickly fell silent.

Everyone realized a harsh reality: the long-standing rivalry between Manchester United and Arsenal was being broken.

Chelsea, the Blues built with huge investments, is rising with unstoppable momentum.

Abramovich rushed into the locker room, grabbed Roy, and kissed him on the cheek. He then kissed each of the players in turn. Finally, he hugged Mourinho, his face flushed, and shouted:
"You made history today! It was Chelsea! It was you who ended Arsenal's 56-game unbeaten run! This team has proven our strength to the world!"

"Look where we are now! Top of the league! First in our Champions League group! We are the strongest team in England! But that's not enough!"

"We must keep going! We must win the Premier League title! We must challenge for the Champions League trophy! We must dominate English football! We must make the name Chelsea remembered throughout Europe!"

"We must fight like we did in every game from now on! We must build a Chelsea dynasty! We must make Stamford Bridge a nightmare for all our opponents!"

"Remember this moment! This is just the beginning! Chelsea will stand atop Europe! We will make the Blues' flag fly high in European competitions!"

"Everyone! Keep fighting for Chelsea's glory! The trophy awaits us!"

A deafening cheer erupted in the locker room.

Abramovich announced with a smile: "Every player present today will receive an extra £10 bonus."

The players high-fived each other in celebration, and some had already started discussing how to spend the money.

Abramovich pulled Roy aside, his eyes shining, and said, "Roy, your performance tonight was incredible! I dare say that buying you was the wisest decision I've made since taking over Chelsea."

He patted Roy on the shoulder, "Keep playing like this, and sooner or later a bronze statue of you will be erected outside Stamford Bridge. You are the symbol of a new era for Chelsea!"

“This is my job, Mr. Abramovich.”

“I came to Chelsea to win all the trophies. I will continue to score goals for the team, and our collaboration has always been perfect.”

"This team has unlimited potential, and I can already see us lifting many more trophies."

Roy's words came from the bottom of his heart.

At least in that moment, every word he said was sincere.

Looking across the entire European football scene, it's truly impossible to find another club like Chelsea – the trio of Abramovich, Mourinho, and Roy form such a harmonious partnership.

The owner's unwavering support, the coach's masterful tactics, and the players' perfect execution on the field—this golden combination is unmatched by other clubs.

Just like the vows made during the passionate phase of love, the joy of that moment is real, and the sincerity of that moment is beyond doubt.

But the world of football never stops for any promise; injuries, transfers, and fluctuations in form can all change everything in the future.

What you say from the bottom of your heart today may one day become a line of small print in tomorrow's transfer news.

The locker room echoed with the sound of champagne being opened, the smiles between Roy and Abramovich as they clinked glasses, and the image of Mourinho being tossed into the air by the players.

These moments are precious enough.

As for tomorrow? Let's talk about it when tomorrow comes.

On that day, the 25th Toyota Cup football tournament kicked off at Yokohama International Stadium in Japan, with Monaco, the 2003-2004 UEFA Champions League champions, facing off against Caladas of Colombia, the 2004 Copa Libertadores champions.

Ultimately, Monaco secured a 1-0 victory thanks to a header from veteran Pršo in the 87th minute after coming on as a substitute.

This French Ligue 1 team thus went down in history, becoming the ultimate winner of the Toyota Cup era.

In the world of football, which clubs are stronger, European or South American? The Toyota Cup at the end of each year has been the ultimate test of this question.

Although the competition has declined in recent years, the final edition held in Tokyo last night still holds special significance.

It will permanently mark the history of football rivalry between the two continents with a record of 12 wins and 13 losses between South America and Europe, and keep the Toyota Cup in Europe forever.

The match between Monaco and Colombia's Caldas, which Monaco narrowly defeated 1-0, was somewhat dull.

This Ligue 1 team was restricted by the opponent's fierce defense throughout the game, and it wasn't until the 87th minute that substitute veteran Pršo scored with a header.

As European media commented, "Two second-rate teams brought a lackluster end to a top-tier competition."

With FIFA restarting the Club World Cup next year, this 24-year-old traditional tournament will come to an end.

There wasn't much reluctance, just a little regret.

That classic stage, which witnessed the peak duels of superstars like Maradona and Platini, quietly disappeared after a somewhat dull match.

In the early morning of December 12, 2004, Roy's villa near Chelsea's training ground was packed with people.

The living room was brightly lit, and Roy sat in the center of the sofa, tapping his knees lightly with his fingers.

His girlfriend Cheryl held his arm tightly, her gaze following his profile.

Seeing that Roy remained silent, she would occasionally lean in and lightly kiss his cheek.

Although everyone knew that this selection was a sure thing, an invisible tension still filled the air as they waited for the final results.

His entire team surrounded him: his agent Mendes was on the phone, business manager Claire was flipping through documents, and his assistant Heathlen was pacing back and forth.

In the corner, trainer Pintus and technical coach Zola were talking in hushed tones, while the driver and bodyguards stood guard at the door, and his 11-year-old sister Romi sat beside him with a book in her arms.

The villa was also packed with representatives from various sponsors.

Nike's regional manager is talking to Dior's brand director, Rolex's public relations specialist is holding a glass of champagne, and BMW and Coca-Cola's marketing directors are chatting in front of the buffet.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich sent his trusted aide Marina Granovskaia, who was checking something with the club's press officer.

The BBC and French production team CANAL+ were granted special permission to use eight cameras to record the night from different angles.

Just after midnight, the editor-in-chief of *France Football* finally called. The entire living room fell silent instantly, all eyes fixed on Roy.

A clear voice came from the other end of the phone: "Congratulations, Roy, you are the 2004 Ballon d'Or winner."

Roy's fingers stopped tapping.

“Thank you,” he said into the microphone, his voice hoarser than expected. “This is special.”

When the final score of 390 was announced, cheers erupted in the room.

This score is a full 245 points higher than second-place Henry, breaking the record for the largest lead in Ballon d'Or history—previously held by Weah's 82-point lead over Klinsmann in 1995.

Mendes was the first to rush over and hug Roy, and little Romy jumped up and hugged his brother's neck.

A BBC reporter immediately began a live broadcast: "At this very moment, the most dominant Ballon d'Or winner in football history has been born in this villa in the suburbs of London."

The 2004 Golden Globe Awards resulted in an unprecedented and overwhelming victory.

French striker Jorge Roy, who plays for Chelsea, topped the list with an astonishing 390 points. This score is not only nearly three times that of Thierry Henry, who came in second that year with 145 points, but also breaks the all-time high score record held by George Weah in 1995.

His selection was undisputed – he won the Ligue 1, Champions League and French Cup treble in a single season, and set three scoring records in the competitions with 45 league goals, 17 Champions League goals and 10 European Championship goals. He also led the French team to win the European Championship, achieving a grand slam for both club and national team.

Although Arsenal striker Thierry Henry won the European Championship with the French national team and helped the Gunners achieve an unbeaten Premier League title with 30 goals, they were eliminated in the Champions League semi-finals by Monaco, where Roy plays, and ultimately finished second.

Despite winning the Serie A Golden Boot (24 goals), AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko's performance paled in comparison to Ukraine's early exit from the Champions League and failure to qualify for the European Championship, earning him only 95 points and ranking third.

Porto's midfield maestro Deco led the team to the Champions League final and the European Championship semi-finals, but his individual statistics were lackluster (4 goals in the Champions League) and he only received 70 points.

Although Ronaldinho, who played for Manchester United, won the Copa America with Brazil, the club only finished third in the Premier League, with their 50 points completely overshadowed by Roy's brilliance.

What's most impressive about this list isn't just Roy's near-perfect score, but also the dominant performance he displayed: a player who simultaneously rewrote the history of Ligue 1, the Champions League, and the European Championship, achieving a grand slam of club and national team honors in a single year—a feat unprecedented in football history.

Sponsors have hit the jackpot for the most valuable sports endorsement in the football world this century.

Roy won the Ballon d'Or with a record-breaking 390 points, becoming the most dominant player of the year in European football history.

These brands' deep ties with Roy have given them far more global exposure than they expected.

These brands were permanently etched into business history with Roy's crushing victory.

Everyone had something to say to Roy at that moment—the TV station, the team, the sponsors, and his family. They all talked at once, but then fell into a long silence. Finally, Mendes took a deep breath, loosened his tie, and said, "Say something, Roy. Just say something."

Roy looked around, flashed a bright smile, and then said, "I deserve it, don't I?"

"Of course it's you!"

"It should have been done long ago!"

"I knew it would be like this!"

"Deserved!"

"You fucking deserve it!"

"Damn it, we won!"

Roy turned to face the camera, his beige sweater highlighting his sharp features.

His black hair was slightly disheveled and fell across his forehead. His dark eyes gleamed with a wild light, but the roguish smile at the corner of his mouth betrayed his true nature.

"Thank you to everyone watching this moment. But remember, I will play even better next season."

"Like I said, this trophy is something I deserve, in my twentieth year. I was the best footballer in the world last year, nobody could beat me. I won every honor I could win, and I scored against every top team I faced. I had a season that everyone could only dream of. And now? I'll only get stronger."

“I don’t want to stop. This should just be the beginning. I want to be the best player every year, do my best on the court, and give my all to win every championship.”

"There is no finish line, until the day I can no longer run. You understand? This is just the beginning. Nobody knows what the future holds."

France Football's official website posted a large photo of the Ballon d'Or winner right after midnight.

Official statement from France Football:
Chelsea striker André Roy won the 2004 Ballon d'Or with a record-breaking 390 points, far surpassing second-place Thierry Henry (145 points), marking the biggest margin of victory in the award's history. Roy led the French national team to a treble in the 2003-2004 season, winning the Ligue 1, Champions League, and French Cup, breaking numerous competition records, and also leading France to the European Championship title, achieving an unprecedented year-end treble.

During a BBC special, presenter Gary Lineker said "well deserved" three times to the camera.

Reuters' news flash popped up in the backstage of global media three minutes later, with the headline directly quoting Roy's words: "This is just the beginning - 20-year-old prodigy breaks the record for youngest Ballon d'Or winner."

L'Équipe wrote: "The pride of French football! Although his compatriot Henry also performed brilliantly, Roy's all-around ability forced the judges to concentrate their votes on him. His 17 goals in the Champions League and 10 goals in the European Championship in a single season, as well as his crucial goal in the final, prove that he has joined the ranks of all-time greats."

Bild: "European football has entered the Reus era! No German player made it into the top five in this poll, reflecting the decline in the Bundesliga's competitiveness. Bayern Munich's management frankly admitted: 'We need similar talents to revitalize the league's reputation.'"

Gazzetta dello Sport: "Although Shevchenko is in third place, the gap between Serie A and the Ballon d'Or is widening. Roy's rise signifies the strong rise of the Premier League and Chelsea, while Serie A needs to be wary of being left behind."

The Guardian: "From Monaco to Chelsea, Roy conquered Europe in two years. His post-award statement, 'I deserve it,' sparked controversy, but the statistics prove his arrogance is justified: involved in 71% of the team's goals throughout the year, starting 100% of key matches and contributing the winning goal."

Marca: "As Real Madrid's first Ballon d'Or winner from their youth academy, Roy's achievements have caused sleepless nights for the Bernabéu's management. Florentino Pérez's 'superstar policy' is facing its harshest test. We've spent heavily on football legends like Zidane and Ronaldo, yet we've missed out on this player who defined a new era twice: once when he left the youth academy at 18, and again this summer when Paco Alcácer, the son of former Real Madrid president Sanz, was exposed for making discriminatory remarks in a restaurant. Despite Roy's public statement that he 'will never play for Barcelona,' this sincerity hasn't earned him Real Madrid's respect."

Following the release of the information on Chelsea's official website, Monaco Football Club also issued an official statement congratulating Roy on winning the award.

Dear fans, media friends, and everyone who cares about AS Monaco:

Today, we are incredibly proud to congratulate our legendary player, Roy, on winning the 2004 Ballon d'Or. This honor is not only the highest recognition of his personal talent and hard work, but also a further affirmation of the historic achievements of AS Monaco.

In the 2003-2004 season, Roy, wearing the red and white jersey, led Monaco to a treble of Champions League, Ligue 1, and French Cup titles with an astonishing performance of 17 Champions League goals and 45 Ligue 1 goals. Every moment he left at the Stade Louis II, from his hat-trick against Real Madrid to his crucial goal in the final, from his self-crowned victory at the Bernabéu to the champagne celebration on the podium, is deeply etched into the soul of the club. Even now, wearing the Chelsea jersey, we still vividly remember the 18-year-old who rewrote Monaco's history with his "Demon King" prowess.

Roy's professional career began at Monaco, and Monaco's glory shines because of him. We thank him for his past contributions and respect his journey now. This Ballon d'Or trophy belongs to Roy, and also to all the red and white players who stood shoulder to shoulder with him—Giuly, Morientes, Coach Deschamps, and everyone in Monaco who witnessed that legend.

In the future, the dressing room of the Stade Louis II will forever display a photo of him lifting the Champions League trophy, and the youth academy children will still emulate his style of play. As we often say, "Once Monaco, always Monaco."

Congratulations again to Roy!

AS Monaco Football Club
March, 2004

On that night in 2004, when 20-year-old Roy was announced as the Ballon d'Or winner, the entire football world realized that a new era had begun.

This moment marks the birth of the youngest Ballon d'Or winner in history, a mixed-race prodigy of Chinese descent who broke the long-standing age and racial barriers of this honor with 45 goals in a single season.

Although the trophy has not yet been handed to him, everyone knows that the history of football has been rewritten forever on this night.

But looking back years later, this trophy seems more like a harbinger, foreshadowing that this young man of Chinese descent would break even more records and eventually ascend to the throne of the god of football.

That slightly green young man standing under the spotlight later proved with countless championships and goals that the 2004 Ballon d'Or was just the first chapter of the GOAT's legendary life.

If a reporter were to ask that classic question now, Roy would probably be more qualified than Cristiano Ronaldo to give that simple answer.

Who do you think is the best player in the world?

"Me."

(End of this chapter)