The perfect midfield: It starts with never passing the ball to Ronaldo.

Soon, the sharp whistle pierced the hustle and bustle of the autumn night in Condi, and the Alcos Stadium was instantly engulfed in the jubilation of Porto fans.

Although the score of 5:2 looks lopsided, the course of the game was full of ups and downs.

Newly promoted Ave did not falter too much against league powerhouse Porto, and the game was only decided in the final stages.

Mario, who had exchanged jerseys with Oblak, stood near the baseline, his sweat-soaked chest heaving violently.

Although he only came on as a substitute, the physical exertion was considerable; modern football midfielders really do run non-stop.

Sigh, 6 points of physical fitness is far from enough, I still need to train!

It's passable in the relatively less competitive environment of the Portuguese league, but if you were to play in top leagues like La Liga or the Premier League, you'd have to improve your stamina through training!

Mario withdrew his consciousness from the system panel, deciding to enjoy the fruits of victory tonight.

Mario tilted his head back slightly, took a deep breath of the air mixed with the fresh scent of grass and the smell of victory, and glanced over the stands.

Ines was waving her scarf excitedly at herself, her smile as bright as a flower.

The 18-year-old boy smiled, his thoughtful older sister providing just the right amount of emotional support.

"Hey! José, your girlfriend is really pretty~" James Rodriguez teased Mario with a smile, his arm around Mario's shoulder.

"Let me see which one it is?" Atsu joined in the fun.

"A double win on the pitch and in love, Mario, you're something else!" Moutinho stepped forward and gave the shining new star of the night a strong hug, joining the crowd of onlookers.

"Go back to the locker room and put your clothes on quickly. Be extra careful not to catch a cold after the game!" The assistant coach on the sidelines gave a timely reminder.

Mario joked and played around with his teammates as they returned to the locker room. After nearly a month of collaborative training and his outstanding performance on the field today, Mario has successfully earned the recognition of his teammates.

She took out her phone from the locker and replied to Ines, who had sent her blessings before the match.

[Thank you for the support, beautiful fan! The debut was a perfect success. Shall we go celebrate together later?]

After winning the game, of course you should put on the winner's charm!

Unfortunately, Mario will have to wait a little longer to achieve the hat trick, as his uncle calls him to attend a press conference.

As he stepped out of the locker room, Pereira, with a relieved smile, patted his nephew's shoulder firmly, his voice low but clear.

"Well done, really, really well, you proved everything."

"But remember, stay humble and keep working hard." His eyes then turned serious and concerned.

"Okay, Uncle~" Mario nodded vigorously in agreement.

It is said that alcohol and sex are harmful to health. This promising young athlete, who considers himself an outstanding athlete, not only quit drinking, but also says NO to cola and Gatorade!

"Use your job title when you're working!" Pereira emphasized in a low, serious voice, then strode quickly toward the auditorium.

"Yes, Coach!"

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In the small community stadium, the spotlights in the press conference hall converged into a dazzling sea.

The focus was on José Mario, who had just showered and changed, but whose expression still carried the warmth of the match.

Although his face is slightly childlike, he exudes a calm confidence.

As soon as Pereira finished speaking, reporters couldn't wait to throw out the most sensitive questions at the 18-year-old.

"Scoring twice and contributing a key pass in his debut, Mr. Mario, how do you respond to the sharp questions raised before the match about whether you were a nepotism hire?"

Mario tilted his head slightly, a composed smile appearing on his face. The smile carried the sharpness of youth but showed no arrogance whatsoever.

"I think the data itself has already given the most resounding answer."

"I understand the fans' concerns; this is part of competitive sports."

"But here, on the green field, what always determines everything is strength and performance."

"I want to especially thank Coach Vitor. His trust is not based on his surname, but on his value. He has proven with his actions that Porto only values ​​what players can bring to the team."

"Of course, it goes without saying that I do have a little more talent on the field~" Mario's voice was clear and steady, which can be summarized as calm and composed.

The reporter on the sidelines nodded as he jotted down the key points, his primary focus, of course, being to boost newspaper sales—"Porto Youngster: I got playing time because my uncle-coach trusts my abilities!"

No sooner had one question been asked than another reporter followed up with another.

"Cristiano Ronaldo and José Mourinho both mentioned you publicly before the match. Is there anything you'd like to say to them?"

When the two football stars were mentioned, Mario's eyes lit up. He said that in addition to skills and good looks, young players also need to generate buzz to become famous.

"Cristiano Ronaldo has always been a role model for me. His words have given me a deeper understanding of the responsibilities a top player needs to shoulder and the determination to pursue excellence."

"Therefore, when the opportunity came my way, I chose to help the team in the simplest way!"

"As for Mr. Mourinho comparing me to Deco?"

"This is undoubtedly a very high expectation, and I will use continuous actions and performance to prove that I deserve such praise."

"But I don't want to be anyone's shadow. My goal is to be the one and only José Mario."

The tabloids really don't have much integrity; the headlines they drafted on the spot quickly appeared in the reporter's notebook.

Mario tweets to Ronaldo: Taking shots himself would be easier for him to help the team!

Porto's 18-year-old prodigy says Mourinho's protégé is nothing special!

The provocative reporters weren't done yet; the previous issue of no obligation to pass the ball was brought up again.

"Does your two spectacular long-range goals today give you the confidence to say you have no obligation to pass the ball to Ronaldo?"

"There are no obligations on the football field. When the opportunity arises, I will make the appropriate choice!"

"When space opens up at the edge of the penalty area, I have the ability to seize the opportunity and close out the game for the team!"

When facing the media, Mario didn't play hard to get; he stuck to his usual line: "Everything is for the sake of the game."

While riding the wave of popularity, they also expressed their own attitude.

Winning trophies is the most important thing. Mario isn't naive enough to think that 1000 goals can surpass leading the team to the World Cup as the core player!

As a die-hard Roger fan, Mario naturally wants to do both things well!

After putting down the microphone, he looked around the room with bright eyes, revealing a youthful and sharp edge!

Pereira, looking slightly exasperated, patted his nephew on the shoulder after the press conference.

"José, I'll have the club find someone to teach you how to give interviews."

"Get ready for another media bombardment!"

"Coach, this isn't necessarily a bad thing."

"At least more people know my name now!"

Mario shrugged. In the world of football, no one is afraid of becoming famous, just like pigs are afraid of getting fat.

Controversial news can generate more traffic and attract more attention to one's performance.

Otherwise, even with Kanté's talent, he would only be able to languish in a relegation-threatened team in Ligue 1.