When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 234 The Illuminated and the Obscured

After the Ballon d'Or ceremony in 2004, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich booked out a high-end restaurant in Zurich to host a celebratory banquet for Roy.

Football celebrities and stars from all walks of life filled the banquet hall, and the champagne tower was piled high.

Roy invited his former teammates one by one, but Henry declined.

He made an excuse that he had something to do and returned to the hotel early.

In the darkness, Henry drove his car slowly through the streets of Zurich with his wife.

"What are you thinking about, Thierry?" his wife asked softly.

Henry's fingers tightened on the steering wheel: "I'm thinking maybe I'll never win the Ballon d'Or or FIFA World Player of the Year. Am I not good enough?"

“You know what? I’ve been running like crazy for twenty years, thinking that as long as I’m fast enough, I can catch up with those unattainable dreams. But just now, when I saw that kid lift the trophy, I suddenly realized that I was like a fool who was just standing in the same place on a treadmill. What’s the use of being fast? When the machine stops, I’m still standing in the same place.”

“I’ve waited so long for Zidane, and I lost to him last year. I still can’t understand why. Now there’s Roy, holding the trophy and saying ‘see you next year.’ What’s even more fucking weird is that I actually think he’s right. This award should be his, and it will be his next year. This feeling is worse than losing, because even my resentment seems so ridiculous.”

Henry honked the car horn a few times and cursed, "F**k."

When his wife gently placed her hand on the back of his neck, he slammed on the brakes.

Fate followed him like an inescapable shadow.

Ironically, what suffocated him was not some vague destiny, but a living, breathing person.

That teammate and rival who was once called "Little Henry".

No one calls Roy that anymore; people talk about his limits and how bright his future will be.

The real Henry has been relegated to the "past tense that has been surpassed".

That's the reality of football: no one ever defines a new era by being the underdog.

At this moment, Roy was surrounded by celebrities from all walks of life, each wanting to clink glasses with him, take photos with him, and say a few words of flattery.

Since winning the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year, he is no longer "the one who plays football," but has become a superstar in everyone's eyes.

Even the way people greet each other has changed. What used to be a pat on the shoulder has now been replaced by a formal handshake.

The party that night was star-studded, with local Swiss celebrities arriving one after another.

Tennis legend Roger Federer, skiing legend Jennifer Zubrigan, and "Swiss tennis princess" Martina Hingis were all present in the guest seats.

Late into the night, Roy ran into his old friend Jude Law.

Although this British actor was born in London, he doesn't support Chelsea, but he doesn't care. He always says he's a loyal fan of Roy.

Tonight, he had a girl by his side: Scarlett Johansson.

Roy remembered her.

Chelsea met Scarlett once during a Nike event in New York that summer.

At that time, she was with her boyfriend Leto. Although Roy was somewhat interested in her, he didn't think much of it.

After all, she lives in the United States, while his life is centered in Europe.

He's not the kind of person who would give up his career to pursue a girl.

But now, Scarlett is standing right in front of him.

Under the lights, she was even more beautiful than in the summer.

Scarlett had light brown wavy hair, and her green eyes shone brightly under the lights.

She was wearing a fitted black turtleneck sweater, paired with simple jeans and low-heeled ankle boots.

She wore small pearl earrings and minimal makeup, only a touch of light lipstick.

She looks casual yet pleasing to the eye.

Jude Law put his arm around Roy's shoulder and grinned at Scarlett: "Let me introduce you to my brother, this year's FIFA World Player of the Year."

He swirled the champagne glass in his hand. "It's the most awesome guy in football, like an Oscar-winning actor, you know what I mean?"

Scarlett smiled knowingly. "We've met before."

She looked up at Roy, "You haven't already forgotten about me, have you?"

Roy gave a slight bow, revealing a standard gentlemanly smile: "How could I forget? We had a very pleasant chat that day. And you brought good luck, as we beat AC Milan in a friendly match the very next day."

He deliberately emphasized the word "good luck" very softly, as if it were just a coincidence.

Jude Law's eyes widened, and his champagne glass froze in mid-air.

Even a seasoned player like him was stunned.

Goodness, the tricks he usually uses to flirt with girls on set are nothing compared to what he does while playing soccer—it's like a high school student trying to pick up girls.

He nudged Roy in the lower back and squeezed out through gritted teeth, "Damn, are all you football players this good at talking now?"

Scarlett's eyes lit up, and her smile deepened.

"Really?" She tilted her head slightly, her tone slightly teasing. "Then it seems I'll have to come to watch a few more games."

Roy shrugged, feigning seriousness: "Scientifically speaking, statistically speaking, we should definitely try more."

He casually asked, "Is The Island finished filming? I thought you should still be on set."

"You knew I was filming this?"

“I’ve watched all of Michael Bay’s movies, and I’ve watched Bad Boys at least five times. Aside from football, I’m a pretty hardcore movie buff.”

“The crew had a few days off before Christmas,” Scarlett said. “I came to Europe to do some shopping and relax. I ran into Jude Law at a business event last night, and I heard the party was pretty fun.”

"Then he lied to you; this party was actually incredibly boring."

"I don't think so. At least it's much more interesting now."

The three of them chatted for a while by the champagne tower. Roy spoke politely, neither overly enthusiastic nor distant.

As he was talking about Michael Bay's movie special effects, he caught a glimpse of Cheryl standing not far away, arms crossed, her toes lightly tapping the marble floor.

“Hey, darling,” he said naturally, putting his arm around Cheryl as she walked over. “Jude, you’ve met her before, this is Scarlett.”

He then turned to the two of them and smiled, "My girlfriend, Cheryl."

Cheryl wore a polite smile, but secretly pinched Roy's lower back with her fingernails.

Scarlett raised her glass: "Your red dress is beautiful."

Cheryl is very content now.

Roy is handsome, young, and has more money than he can spend. He is feared on the field and is undoubtedly the Premier League's number one striker.

He had just won the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards, enjoying immense success.

She no longer envies Victoria. Her fellow members all say that as long as she holds onto Roy tightly, Victoria won't be able to compete with her in a few years.

Cheryl is very happy now, but she knows in her heart that it won't be easy to keep Roy.

Whether they truly love him or are after his fame and status, the girls who are with him will eventually find that he is as elusive as a gust of wind.

Although Roy took her to Madrid to meet his mother and promised to accompany her back to Newcastle for Christmas dinner with his family (as a way of making up for not being able to attend the Beckham family party with her), she still felt helpless with him.

If meeting his mother would put her mind at ease, then she'd heard that Dutch model Doutzen Klos used to frequent Roy's home in Monaco and even accompany his mother shopping.

She spent all her time thinking about how to keep Roy under her control, and some crazy ideas even flashed through her mind.

For example, secretly getting herself pregnant with his child.

But then she felt deflated: Girls Aloud had just signed a seven-figure contract for a US tour, and her manager was planning to release a solo album for her.

If she suddenly made headlines with a pregnant belly, her record company would definitely kill her.

On December 23, 2004, Roy accompanied Cheryl back to Newcastle to meet her parents.

Her father greeted her at the door, rubbing his hands together, while the family's finest porcelain was laid out on the dining table.

Throughout the evening, Cheryl's family warmly welcomed Roy. Her father even pulled out a dusty football yearbook, pointed to the Newcastle United crest, and jokingly asked, "I heard Chelsea are going to buy a new striker in the winter? Actually, we're pretty short of goal scorers here too."

Cheryl's brother was busy clinking glasses with Roy, while their mother kept adding roasted potatoes to his plate.

No one mentioned marriage, and no one showed the slightest dissatisfaction.

When Roy politely declined the third glass of whiskey, her father simply laughed and patted him on the shoulder: "Professional athletes are all about self-discipline!"

Under the table, Cheryl's nails dug quietly into her palms.

This went much more smoothly than she had expected.

The tabloids always say that Roy is a playboy, a wild beast on the field, but a polite gentleman off the field.

Cheryl sometimes flips through the ex-girlfriends' revelations in The Sun and wonders: were they incompetent, or was she just lucky?
Who cares? I'm the one standing next to him now.

On Christmas Day, Roy attended Chelsea's Christmas dinner in the Stamford Bridge box at noon.

That evening, he and Makelele flew to Paris to have dinner with Zidane.

Vieira and Pires then joined them.

Roy invited Giuly and Rothen again, but Henry once again excused himself to be absent.

Dinner lasted until late at night, and the Parisian media were curious about the content of their conversation.

The meeting between the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year has attracted widespread attention, especially the speculation about whether Zidane will make a comeback.

If he returns, the French team's situation will definitely become more chaotic, but the media always loves such excitement.

Cheryl attended a lavish party hosted by the Beckhams at their mansion.

This was no ordinary gathering; Beckham and Victoria held a special baptism ceremony for their two sons, Brooklyn and Romeo, and even built a small chapel in their yard.

Victoria is determined to be the star this time.

Despite being six months pregnant, she got her hair and makeup done in advance, and even had a dress custom-made to cover her belly.

She even privately told the female guests "not to dress too flashy," especially former Spice Girls member and celebrity friend Elizabeth Hurley, who was invited to the event.

After all, big names like Elton John, Coach Eriksson, and Tom Cruise were present.

Interestingly, neither Victoria's younger siblings nor the scandal-ridden Hurley were on the list of godparents for the two children. However, all four former Spice Girls members agreed to attend, marking the first time the five of them had appeared together since the group disbanded.

As Cheryl stood under the crystal chandelier with a glass of champagne, she caught a glimpse of Victoria carefully wiping her sweaty forehead with a handkerchief.

The expectant mother, wearing high heels, moved among the guests like a peacock ready to spread its tail feathers at any moment.

At the party, England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson and Gary Neville came to greet Cheryl one after the other.

Rooney's girlfriend Coleen also joined in the chat, but Rooney, standing in the distance, kept a straight face, clearly still holding a grudge against Roy for publicly saying that he "didn't deserve the Golden Boy award" some time ago.

He initially maintained the official line, claiming that he "respects the opinions of every player."

This is likely thanks to Manchester United's press officer.

But just a few days later, he couldn't hold back any longer and launched an attack in the Manchester Evening News: "Just wait and see, I will prove who the real future star is."

After seeing the report, Roy responded directly: "Golden Boy Award? You're not eligible for that after 21. But if I can win it back-to-back, my name should be engraved on the trophies from the past two years. That should make Wayne realize the gap."

"If the 2005 award had been given out before October, I should have won it for the third time in a row."

Victoria, visibly pregnant, came to the rescue, and Beckham followed with a glass of champagne.

When Cheryl explained that Roy was unable to attend a dinner with Zidane, Beckham laughed heartily: "Looks like Zidane and I aren't really on the same level!"

He glanced at Victoria, who was being amused by Tom Cruise, with his blue eyes, "Anyway, I'm never the main character here."

What Beckham didn't know was...

On Christmas Eve, at a private dinner in Paris, Zidane made the decision to return to the sport.

This decision was influenced by Beckham's speech at the FIFA World Player of the Year award ceremony.

At the same time, Roy refused to wear the number 10 jersey during his two selections for the French national team, insisting on leaving the number vacant.

This gesture made Zidane feel especially respected.

He was clearly unaware of an ancient Chinese custom called "three refusals and three concessions," and Roy did this to demonstrate his competence by repeatedly declining the offer and showcasing his humility.

Zidane did not understand this unique political wisdom found in Eastern culture.

Alas! Behold this young man, fighting tirelessly day and night for his country, galloping across the green field, giving his all. On the field, he fights with unparalleled courage; in private, he shows respect to veterans, displaying the virtue of yielding three times and offering ten more titles. His loyalty shines as bright as the sun and moon, his righteousness reaches the heavens—truly a talent unmatched in France's millennia-long history! Just as Jiang Ziya met King Wen at eighty, Roy, at a young age, displays saintly virtue—is this not Heaven's blessing upon Gaul?
On the first day after Christmas, Zidane issued a statement through L'Equipe: "I am now open to returning to the national team. If the coach thinks the team needs me, I will accept the call-up."

This statement stands in stark contrast to his resolute declaration of "complete retirement" six months ago.

When pressed by reporters about the specific timeline for his return, Zidane added, "It depends on the coaching staff's arrangements. I am ready to take on the responsibilities I should bear for the country at any time."

Three hours after the statement was issued, the French Football Federation updated its national team roster pool on its official website, and Zidane's name was prominently listed.

2004年12月26日，英超第19轮节礼日大战，切尔西在斯坦福桥球场1-0小胜阿斯顿维拉。

The only goal of the match came in the 30th minute: Roy successfully broke through the defense on the left and delivered a precise through ball. Duff received the ball, quickly cut inside, easily dribbled past Villa defender Ridgewell, and pushed the ball into the near corner of the goal with his left foot from 12 yards out.

They continue to maintain their huge lead at the top of the league table.

阿森纳在主场2-0击败富勒姆，亨利在第12分钟打入个人第131个联赛进球，超越伊恩-赖特3球继续扩大阿森纳队史联赛射手王的记录，皮雷在第71分钟再入一球锁定胜局。

Manchester United thrashed Bolton 3-0 at home, with veteran midfielders Giggs and Scholes each scoring a goal, and Cristiano Ronaldo adding another in stoppage time, making him United's second-highest scorer this season.

In the early hours of December 28, France Football magazine officially announced that Chelsea striker Roy had been named the 2004 French Footballer of the Year.

Roy had already won both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards, which made the jury's decision unsurprising.

There wasn't even room to award Henry a consolation prize.

This is also the first time Roy has won the French Footballer of the Year award in his career.

In late December, the World News published a report on Premier League player salaries.

Chelsea's Roy tops the list with a weekly wage of £12, far exceeding other players.

Second on the list are Arsenal's Vieira and Campbell, and Chelsea's Lampard, all three earning £9.9 a week, a figure just below the £10 tax threshold.

Manchester United players' salaries are significantly lower than their competitors, with captain Roy Keane ranking fourth at £8.4 and Thierry Henry ranking fifth at £8.

Chelsea's Terry (£6.8) and Manchester United's Ferdinand (£6.5) ranked sixth and seventh respectively.

It's worth noting that Liverpool captain Gerrard ranks ninth with only £5.6, less than half of Roy's weekly wage.

This list has sparked heated discussions in society.

Players union president Taylor defended the high salaries, arguing that players have short careers and face immense pressure.

However, a healthcare system spokesperson pointed out that it would take nurses five or six years to earn what Lampard earns in a week, a worrying disparity.

Data shows that 50 years ago, players earned only tens of pounds a week. Even though Lineker's weekly salary of £1 was considered astronomical in the 1990s, the highest salary today is 12 times that of that time.

Salary disparities are also evident between teams.

Tottenham's top earners Defoe and Robinson earn only £1.8, while Chelsea's substitute Joe Cole (£3.5) earns almost twice that amount.

Goalkeepers are generally paid relatively little; former Manchester City goalkeeper James earns £2 a week, while Liverpool's Kirkland earns £2.2.

Middlesbrough is an exception among mid-table teams, with Viduka, Hasselbaink, and Southgate all earning annual salaries of £4.

2004年12月28日英超第20轮，切尔西客场2-0战胜朴茨茅斯。

The home team dominated for the first 70 minutes, while Chelsea struggled to defend.

The turning point came in the 70th minute with Mourinho's substitutions: Roy came on as a substitute for Duff, and Robben moved to the right wing.

This personnel change had an immediate effect.

In the 79th minute, Chelsea launched their signature counter-attack.

Roy made an off-the-ball run down the left flank, drawing two defenders before quickly passing the ball to Thiago in the center. After a brief run by Lampard, Robben finally broke the deadlock on the right flank.

The key to this attack was Roy's role in drawing attention away from the defense.

His movement caused Portsmouth's entire defense to shift to the left, creating space on the right flank.

Roy scored again in stoppage time.

After receiving a pass from Gudjohnsen, he curled a perfect right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, sending the ball straight into the top corner.

This goal came from a greater distance and from a more difficult angle, bringing his 21-minute substitute performance to a perfect close.

Roy gradually developed a "savior" effect at Chelsea.

The team's attacking system is increasingly reliant on him; when he's on the field, the attack flows smoothly and goals come in abundance.

Once he's rotated out for a rest, the whole team goes through a scoring drought.

This contrast has created a dependency among both fans and coaches: "Can't break the deadlock? Just bring on Roy."

Mourinho originally emphasized team football, but the reality is ironic: whenever Roy is rotated out, the team suffers a goal drought.

Over time, even the "madman" had to compromise with this kind of individual heroism.

The fans in the stands developed a conditioned reflex: whenever the score remained close, the entire stadium would start chanting Roy's name.

This situation has put Chelsea in a vicious cycle: the more they rely on Roy's individual ability, the weaker their overall tactics become.

The simpler the team's overall tactics, the more indispensable Roy becomes.

Like a sophisticated machine, in the end only the "pass the ball to Roy" button remained.

In another parallel world, Chelsea should have already launched a relentless team attack.

However, in this reality, the players have developed a serious dependency mentality.

When Roy is not on the field, Lampard will make fewer forward runs, Duff will prefer to pass back rather than cross, Robben will habitually cut inside and look for Roy's running route, and Makelele's passing options will also be significantly reduced.

These players are not lacking in ability, but rather, after relying on Roy as the core of their attack for a long time, they have lost the tacit understanding and confidence to make independent decisions without him.

Data shows that Chelsea's attacking efficiency dropped by 40% and the number of passes between players decreased by 25% in games where Roy was absent.

Roy actually resented the team becoming dependent on him, but sometimes things are just that ironic.

When you become so powerful that you can single-handedly rewrite the game, it can actually cause the entire team to gradually lose its ability to solve problems on its own.

Just as giving a child too much help can hinder their growth, Roy's outstanding performance inadvertently became a sweet trap that limited Chelsea's overall development.

On the evening of December 30, Roy and several Chelsea teammates dined with their female companions in London's West End.

Because they are scheduled to play Liverpool away at Anfield on January 1st, the team canceled their New Year's Eve activities and celebrated the New Year earlier on this day.

According to a restaurant waiter, the group of players dined in a private room until around 22 p.m., and all the dishes they ordered were approved by the club's nutritionist.

During the meal, Roy also asked the waiter for a local Liverpool newspaper and studied the latest news about his rivals while eating.

The teammates left one after another before 23 p.m., and everyone strictly abided by the curfew time set by Mourinho.

On the way home, Cheryl's hands began to wander restlessly. She leaned close to Roy's ear and whispered, "Don't sleep tonight, I want to make love to you all night."

Her breath carried the sweet scent of champagne, and her fingers had already unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt.

Roy gripped the steering wheel with one hand and grabbed her restless wrist with the other: "We have training tomorrow morning, honey. Mourinho even checks up on us when we're sleeping."

He won't find out.

"We'll sneak back to my apartment; no one will know."

Roy laughed and joked, "The physical fitness test is at nine o'clock tomorrow. Mourinho will smell the testosterone in my blood."

Cheryl giggled at his words, then pounced on him, showering his neck with kisses and digging her fingers deep into his short hair: "Oh my god, I love you so much!"

Her voice trembled with excitement as her lips traced a path up his jaw until Roy had to steady himself on the steering wheel with one hand.

"Hey, watch out—"

Before he could finish speaking, the car nearly veered off course, and the high beams of the car behind him flashed angrily twice.

Cheryl nestled in his arms, whispering against his earlobe, "Mourinho isn't a mad scientist; he needs his world's best player to stay in form."

Her hand had already slipped into Roy's pocket, pulling out the apartment key. "But now your world's number one girlfriend needs... needs you to make me so weak I can't even lift a finger."

Roy muttered under his breath, "She's calling me the world's best player now. Even though I already am."

His tone carried a hint of helpless smugness.

(End of this chapter)