When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 231 Glory and the Unfinished Road

On December 13, 2004, Roy, who had just won the Ballon d'Or, arrived in Paris on Chelsea owner Abramovich's private plane.

Abramovich specially arranged for his famous "Abramovich Sky" private jet to pick him up.

In addition to Roy's agent team, Chelsea CEO Kenyon and manager Mourinho were also on the same plane.

As soon as the plane landed, this large and impressive procession attracted the attention of all the media present.

Roy stepped out of the cabin wearing a dark blue Dior coat, and his white turtleneck sweater and black trousers made him look particularly smart.

He wore amber sunglasses, and the Rolex Daytona Gold Ball Special Edition on his wrist gleamed in the sunlight.

The deep blue dial exudes a calm and sophisticated air, while the edges of the three chronograph sub-dials are delicately engraved with subtle soccer ball patterns.

The ceramic speedometer ring is engraved with the eye-catching "CHAMPION 2004", recording the glorious year of the award.

The case is made of 18K Everose gold, with a warm and noble color. Turning the watch over reveals a unique inscription – “Roi 10” and Roi’s award date.

The black alligator leather strap has a delicate feel, and the rose gold Oyster buckle adds a touch of classic style while subtly incorporating football elements, perfectly matching the taste of a Ballon d'Or winner.

This limited-edition watch sparked a buying frenzy as soon as it was released.

Rolex announced that sales will continue until the next Golden Globe Awards ceremony, but left a suspense: if Roy wins again, the brand may release a new model.

This sales strategy, which appears to be unlimited but has an expiration date, combined with Rolex's consistent market performance of supply falling short of demand, is strikingly similar to the "champion skin" marketing tactic that later became popular in the e-sports industry.

Once this opportunity is gone, it's gone forever, and there will be no reprints or re-releases.

His girlfriend Cheryl linked arms with him, and the two walked down the gangway side by side.

Chelsea owner Abramovich was all smiles. As soon as he stepped out of the cabin, he stretched out a big yawn and excitedly punched the air twice.

Mourinho, standing to the side, also showed a rare smile. Although Roy won the Ballon d'Or based on his achievements at Monaco, he was still Chelsea's first Ballon d'Or winner in history.

With flashbulbs going off non-stop, the moment this private jet landed in Paris has become the most glamorous promotional video in the history of the Blues.

Every year, France Football and CANAL+ broadcast the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony during prime time on the eve of the magazine's release. This year, the ceremony was held at 6:50 p.m., and the venue changed to the more spacious Studio 3 at CANAL+ headquarters.

It was no longer the small live broadcast room where Nedved accepted the award alone last year, but now there were audience members and interactive segments.

Starting at 6 p.m., Paris Saint-Germain club president Greuer and L'Équipe group president Chernou arrived one after another.

Invited guests and media reporters flocked to the reception hall on the basement floor of CANAL+ TV station.

The walls of the lobby are adorned with large magazine cover photos of the three Ballon d'Or winners: Ronaldo, Zidane, and Nedved, while two large stacks of France Football magazine, not yet officially released until tomorrow, are piled up at the entrance.

(This is an AI-modified image of Shevchenko; please bear with it.)

On the cover, 20-year-old Roy's gaze is sharp, and his young face exudes a sense of dynamism.

At 6:10 a.m., escorted by two security guards, the newly crowned Globe of Champion stepped out of the magazine cover and into reality.

He skillfully handled the autograph and photo-taking process, and was then led to a corner for an exclusive interview with a French journalist.

As Roy walked toward the interview area, the reporters present tacitly made way for him.

Duluk of L'Équipe naturally took the microphone. Everyone was already used to this scene, after all, this veteran sports reporter had a close personal relationship with Roy and often acted as the Ballon d'Or winner's "official mouthpiece".

He wore a sharp black suit with a black tie, but the gold lion brooch on his chest stood out—it was the symbol of Chelsea.

"When you're holding the trophy, and you see Platini and Zidane's names engraved on the base, don't you feel like you're becoming a new legend in French football?"

Roy's answer was quite frank: "It's too early to talk about that now. The title 'legend' is more appropriate for others to judge at the end of a career. It sounds great, but it always feels a bit like retirement. It's like when you're young and want to be a cool kid, you don't want to hear people say 'he'll be a good dad,' even if that might be true."

"The trophy certainly represents something; it's recognition of me. But my thought right now is simple: Wow, I want to win it again next year. I'm only twenty; I have plenty of time to continue competing for this honor."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "This trophy isn't the end; it's more like a reminder that I can do even better. Every season is a new beginning, and I still have a lot to prove."

Duluk's question was precise and to the point, while Roy responded with humor and sharpness, eliciting knowing smiles from the reporters present, who were also secretly surprised by the young Ballon d'Or winner's undisguised ambition.

Duruk: "Mourinho said this morning, 'This is just Roy's first Ballon d'Or. Do you agree with that expectation?"

“I completely agree with the coach. At this stage, I’m very fortunate to be playing in a great team, whether at Chelsea or the French national team. There are world-class teammates and coaches here, and players like Lampard and Henry fully deserve the Ballon d'Or, but it is this competitive environment that constantly reminds me that I can do better.”

"This isn't just empty talk; it's my honest opinion. When you're surrounded by top players, you naturally want to push your limits. In every training session and every game, I want to prove that I deserve to wear this jersey."

"The Ballon d'Or is not the end, but a new beginning. I will continue to work hard because this team deserves the best from me."

Duluk: "Terry said 'your crossover made his knee hurt.' Who do you think is the toughest defender you've ever faced?"

“I have to say that the most difficult player to deal with is indeed Paolo Maldini, although it is a pity that I was not able to compete with him during his peak. Among the current players, Thuram and Terry are the most difficult to deal with. You have to be fully focused in every training session, otherwise they will dispossess you if you are not careful. And Carlos, although we are in different positions and will not directly match up, as long as he is on the field, you have to be on guard against him suddenly making a long-range shot to score.”

He added, "These top defenders taught me one thing: in the highest level of competition, there is no room for complacency. Every confrontation is an opportunity to learn and improve."

"If you were to leave Chelsea someday, which club would you be willing to give up the blue jersey?"

Roy gave a helpless smile, and Abu in the stands couldn't help but laugh and applaud.

"Monaco may wait until the day they need me again."

This witty response immediately elicited good-natured laughter from the audience, expressing respect for the former employer while cleverly avoiding sensitive topics.

He added, "But right now, I just want to focus on how to create more value at Chelsea. This team has given me a stage to realize my dreams, and my blue jersey is still full of unfinished stories."

With a mischievous grin, Durok said, "Come on, Roy, you know there's no team in the world that doesn't need you."

Duruk: "How much has Mourinho's tactical system helped your performance?"

Roy: "This is a new challenge. Mourinho's system is excellent, and most importantly, it has created a team that almost never makes mistakes. We minimize the risk and then create threats. My job and the other attacking players' job is to create scoring opportunities, and we've done a good job in that regard."

Duruk: "Modern football places increasingly higher demands on attacking players. How have you adapted to this change?"

Roy: "We definitely need to do more now. The game is becoming more professional, and we have to run more, observe more, and read the game more. Football has become more difficult than it used to be, but that's why it's more exciting."

Duruk: How do you view your partnership with the midfield? Have you had any special training sessions to develop a better understanding of each other?

Roy: "I've had the privilege of playing alongside some of the best midfielders in the world: Makelele, Lampard, Thiago Mendes, Duff. I would say the most important thing is mutual trust, just like they believed I was the best striker."

Duluk: "How do you maintain a consistent level of performance throughout the long season?"

Roy: "Maintain a sense of hunger, coupled with a scientifically sound training plan."

Duruk: "Do you have any special preparation methods for dealing with the pressure before important matches?"

Roy: "I listen to rock music, read philosophy books or biographies of great people. When you imagine yourself as Napoleon before the Battle of Austerlitz, you realize that the pressure on the football field is nothing."

Duruker: "After winning the Ballon d'Or, how do you plan to adjust your mindset to meet new challenges?"

Roy: "We strive for more achievements, but the specific approach is simple: play each game well in front of us."

Duluke: "One last question: When you retire, how do you hope people will define the 'Roy era'?"

This is a question that requires first determining whether the "Roy era" actually existed before discussing how to define it.

Roy: "First of all, I'm not sure if there will really be a 'Roy era.' Football is a team sport, and every era is written by many great players. But if I had to answer..."

"I prefer to let real championships and achievements speak for themselves, rather than being given some grand title like 'Era.' Let time judge such lofty definitions. As the saying goes: 'The merits and demerits of a thousand years are left for future generations to judge.' Time will ultimately provide the answer to everything on the football field."

"If I had to give a rating to his career, I would say the simplest thing: he won everything he could win and left without any regrets."

Roy maintained a polite smile on the sofa until half an hour later when he was taken to the live broadcast room by staff.

The live streaming room is not spacious, and can accommodate about 50 people.

Elno and Deniso, head of CANAL+ sports, sat at the T-shaped wooden table, waiting for Roy's arrival.

The empty seat next to jury president Ernault should have belonged to Roy, but instead, Miss France Cindy Fabre appeared.

Guy, the tidbit editor of France Football, joked, "The next issue of the magazine must feature a photo of Ernst and Miss France."

Colleague Barrett expressed her concern, saying, "She stole the spotlight from the Golden Globes."

Indeed, Cindy's appearance immediately drew everyone's attention, and Elno was no longer the focus.

But all of that changed when Roy arrived.

At 19:25 PM, when Elno officially announced the Ballon d'Or winner, all the guests stood up, their eyes turning to Roy as he walked in. The beautiful Cindy instantly became an elegant backdrop.

"Dear Roy, on behalf of France Football magazine, I announce that you will become the first Chelsea player and the fifth French player to win the Ballon d'Or. Congratulations!"

After Roy took his seat, the projected TVs began playing a documentary about his growth, co-produced by CANAL+ and France Football, showcasing his football journey in France and Madrid.

Looking at the childhood photos on the screen, Roy's expression was focused, as if he were lost in memories.

As he often mentions, winning the Golden Globe Award has been his dream since childhood.

Subsequently, Deniso, head of CANAL+ Sports, conducted a brief interview with Roy.

The French have always been good at creating surprises, and such an important gala was no exception.

Denisso told Roy that a special phone call would be made into the studio. The voice of Juventus coach Deschamps came through the line: "Congratulations, Roy, this is your moment. Your talent, speed, and superb technique deserve this trophy. At Monaco and with the French national team, you proved yourself to be a highly professional player. It was an honor to work with you; your attitude towards football is a model for all young players. This will never be your end; I believe this is just the beginning of a great career. Keep going, champion!"

At 8 p.m., just after the live broadcast ended, the host Deniso and the two main characters, Elno and Roy, were surrounded by a huge crowd.

At the subsequent press conference, although the questions were largely the same, Roy answered them patiently, as if each repetition was a way of reliving that joy.

At 8:30 p.m., when Roy finished answering the last reporter's question and was about to leave, the autograph table was still surrounded by people.

Aside from media representatives, most of those who could enter this internal event were influential figures, including club executives, sponsor representatives, and several long-time fan members wearing Monaco jerseys.

At the edge of the crowd, Roy suddenly spotted a familiar figure.

His ex-girlfriend, French actress Leticia Costa, stood quietly to the side, holding the latest issue of France Football magazine.

When their eyes met, she simply said softly, "Bless you, Roy."

Roy paused for a moment, then took the signed magazine and whispered, "Thank you, Letty."

At this point, the staff member gestured for him to continue forward, and he could only nod in acknowledgment.

The surrounding area was ablaze with flashes, but the restrained moment between the two was still captured by a sharp-eyed reporter from Le Parisien.

This unexpected incident did not affect Roy's schedule.

He continued signing autographs for the next waiting French Football Federation official, as if he had just met an ordinary old friend.

But after signing ten magazines, he couldn't help but look back in the direction Leticia had left.

She was handing the magazine to her assistant and walking briskly toward the exit, her sharply tailored beige suit gleaming softly under the spotlight.

Looking at the fans who were being kept outside by security guards, his face was full of apology.

Even after winning the Ballon d'Or, he remained the same Roy who would sign autographs for young fans on the sidelines of training.

"My plane is about to take off, I'm so sorry, so very sorry!"

Repeating this phrase over and over, Roy and his Chelsea entourage, who hadn't even had time to attend the cocktail party, hurriedly disappeared at the end of the corridor.

As planned, two weeks later, Hernaud, editor-in-chief of France Football, will travel to London again to officially present the Ballon d'Or to Roy on the pitch.

In an interview with L'Équipe, Henry commented on Roy's award: "Without a doubt, Roy deserves this Ballon d'Or. His performance speaks for itself—the Champions League title, the Champions League Golden Boot, the European Championship Golden Boot—these hard-earned achievements stand out. However, to be honest, I was a little surprised when I saw the final points difference. The gap between us was larger than in any previous edition in the last decade, which makes me wonder: did the judges decide the answer too early? Of course, this isn't a criticism of Roy, but rather a hope that future selections will be more..."

After much deliberation, he chose a cautious word: "...more balanced."

In an interview, Wenger commented on Roy's Ballon d'Or win: "I have no objection to Roy winning the Ballon d'Or. To be honest, if it weren't for him winning, but Thierry (Henry) not winning, I might question the fairness of the selection. But Roy's performance was impeccable, and he fully deserves this honor."

“Ron is arguably the toughest striker to deal with in the Premier League right now. Sometimes I wonder: why didn’t our scouts discover this talent back then? He seems to have suddenly appeared out of nowhere, just like two years ago. But in fact, players of this caliber are never born by chance.”

Ronaldinho commented: "I played against Roy in Ligue 1. He is the best striker, without a doubt. I once wanted to invite him to Manchester United. He also said that he liked playing with Ronaldinho. But you see, he lied to me twice. He stayed in Monaco and did some incredible things, and then he came to London. Now we are rivals."

Tuttosport awarded the 2004 European Golden Boy award to 19-year-old Manchester United player Wayne Rooney.

His teammate Cristiano Ronaldo is ranked second, followed by Arjen Robben of Chelsea, Fernando Torres of Atletico Madrid, and Martins of Inter Milan.

This award is specifically for the best young player under 21 in Europe, and Rooney won it for his outstanding performance at the European Championship.

After receiving the award, Rooney said, "Many excellent young players have the ability to win this award, so it is a great honor for me."

"Roy won the Ballon d'Or? That's normal; he's ahead of our generation. But there's still a long way to go. I just joined Manchester United, one of the greatest clubs in the world. We'll win the Champions League, the Premier League, and the Ballon d'Or will naturally follow."

He emphasized, "Don't forget, when he won the Golden Boy award a year ago, my name was also on the shortlist. Now that he can stand on the highest podium, it shows that this award truly foreshadows the future. Ronaldo and I practice shooting every day at Carrington. Sir Alex Ferguson said that Manchester United players should have this kind of ambition."

Rooney suppressed his displeasure with Roy.

When Roy, the inaugural winner, spoke about the Golden Boy award, he said, "To be honest, I think Cristiano (Ronaldo) deserved it more. The Golden Boy should be awarded to those who can carry the team in crucial moments, like Ronaldo in the European Championship semi-final. He still has great potential and will become the core of Manchester United's future. This award should set an example for young players, showing them how to remain calm, ambitious, and disciplined."

Rooney responded: "Every winner has their own value. My performances at Everton and Manchester United are enough to prove my ability. The important thing is to keep improving, not to argue about past awards."

Chelsea's 3-2 victory over Arsenal in the last round gave Manchester United the opportunity to overtake Arsenal in the standings.

However, Manchester United repeatedly missed good chances in this match.

In Manchester United's match against Fulham, with Van Nistelrooy still injured, Ferguson placed the attacking burden on Rooney.

However, the young striker, who had just won the Golden Boy award, had a poor performance. Apart from a shot that hit the post, he was almost invisible throughout the game, which was in stark contrast to his strike partner Smith.

Despite dominating the game, Manchester United were unable to extend their lead.

Rooney's £2700 million price tag has only yielded 7 goals in official matches so far, and in this game he barely managed any decent dribbling.

Just when the match seemed destined to end in a draw, a controversial moment occurred during stoppage time: during a Fulham counter-attack, Radzinski was fouled and fell to the ground. An agitated Rooney grabbed his former Everton teammate by the collar and tried to forcibly pull him up, but was stopped by the referee in time.

This irrational behavior added another disgraceful note to his poor performance.

In the final moments of stoppage time, as Fulham kicked off to close the game, Rooney once again lost his temper.

His impatient behavior not only did not help the team win, but also put him in an embarrassing situation.

This is reminiscent of the previous "Golden Boy" award selection, where Spanish newspapers Marca and AS deliberately gave Rooney a zero score, precisely because of his rough performance in national team matches.

Clearly, his uncontrollable temper is becoming the biggest obstacle hindering the development of this talented striker.

On December 13, 2004, BBC Sport announced the results of its annual Premier League Manager of the Year award.

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger was ultimately chosen, defeating Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson with his outstanding record of leading the team to an unbeaten title win last season.

The following day, the internationally renowned magazine GQ awarded the title of "Man of the Year" to the newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner, Chelsea striker Roy, rather than the well-known heartthrob Beckham.

The previous winner of this award was Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez.

The awards ceremony was held at the Royal Palace Hotel in Madrid, and Roy attended with his girlfriend Cheryl.

At the awards ceremony that evening, Roy interacted with several Real Madrid stars and celebrities from all walks of life in Spain at the Royal Palace Hotel.

He shook hands with players such as Raul and Zidane, and also chatted with cultural figures such as Spanish film star Javier Bardem.

Zidane and Ronaldo spoke highly of Roy's award at the ceremony.

Zidane said: "The Ballon d'Or has always been the most prestigious individual honor in football, and Roy's performance this year fully deserves this trophy."

Ronaldo added, "The players who win this award are the ones who truly change the game."

These praises from the two legendary stars not only affirmed Roy's achievements but also implicitly highlighted their own authoritative status as former Ballon d'Or winners.

After all, only a former king has the right to so confidently judge the coronation of a new king.

Roy met again with Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, and the two had a conversation that lasted about ten minutes in public.

According to reporters at the scene, the conversation did not involve sensitive topics such as transfers.

Perez specifically praised Roy's achievement of winning the Ballon d'Or as a graduate of Real Madrid's youth academy, and mentioned that Roy's younger brother, Rowan, is now one of the best players in Real Madrid's basketball youth academy's under-12 team.

That night he stayed at a villa on the outskirts of Madrid, where his mother and his younger brother Rowan, who was receiving basketball training in the area, lived.

The next day, Roy accompanied his girlfriend Cheryl to shopping in Madrid's famous Salamanca district.

As the two strolled through luxury stores, Cheryl was all smiles and appeared very happy.

Witnesses said that Roy patiently accompanied her to choose items for nearly two hours before leaving with several designer shopping bags.

Spanish media reports suggest that Roy's mother's attitude towards Cheryl may be a key factor in the warming of their relationship.

The mother of the low-profile Ballon d'Or winner almost never gives interviews and rarely appears in public, but it is said that she highly approves of the English girl.

Some media outlets have begun to speculate whether Roy will "settle down" for Cheryl, given that neither of his previous relationships lasted more than a year.

It's worth noting that long before Roy won the Golden Globe, Cheryl had sweetly confessed her feelings on a popular British TV show: "Roy is a perfect man, both charming and gentle. I can totally imagine walking down the aisle with him."

The draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 took place at 12:12 noon (Swiss local time) on December 17 at UEFA headquarters in Nyon.

The draw resulted in several high-profile matchups, most notably the early clash between Chelsea and Barcelona, ​​and the fateful reunion of Real Madrid and Juventus.

These two teams met in the semi-finals of the 2002-03 season, when Juventus eliminated Real Madrid thanks to Nedved's outstanding performance.

Other key matchups include defending champions Monaco against Inter Milan, and Bayern Munich facing Arsenal.

The complete matchup is as follows:

Porto vs. PSV Eindhoven, Bayer Leverkusen vs. Liverpool, Juventus vs. Real Madrid, Lyon vs. Werder Bremen, Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich, AC Milan vs. Manchester United, Inter Milan vs. Monaco, Chelsea vs. Barcelona.

The draw followed these rules: teams from the same country would not be drawn against each other, teams from the same group in the group stage would not be drawn against each other, teams with the same group ranking would not be drawn against each other, and the second-placed team in each group would play their home game first.

赛程方面，首回合比赛定于2005年2月22日至23日进行，次回合则安排在3月8日至9日。

Since both Milan clubs share the San Siro stadium and both teams qualified as group winners, Inter Milan's second-leg home game has been postponed to March 15, in accordance with UEFA's rule that European matches cannot be held at the same stadium for two consecutive days.

The Champions League final this season will be held in Istanbul, Türkiye on May 25.

(End of this chapter)