This was the headline on the front page of The Guardian after Leeds United's 3-1 away victory over Juventus.
Milinkovic's brace became the main topic of discussion across Britain the following day.
No one expected that at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, the one who led Leeds United's comeback was not Mbappe or Vardy, but Milinkovic.
The 24-year-old midfielder shook the entire European football world overnight.
It was only after this match that everyone realized Milinkovic had been seriously underestimated.
In the post-match press conference, Leeds United manager Mauricio Pochettino praised him, calling him one of the best midfielders in the world and one of the team's most important players this season.
"He can execute the team's tactics perfectly on the field. Whether in attack or defense, he performs very well."
Pochettino believed that Milinkovic's importance was not something new. He had always been one of the team's key scorers.
"Yes, he doesn't score a lot, but every goal is crucial."
"More importantly, his dominance on the pitch is something our team cannot do without."
Pochettino said this match perfectly showcased his strengths. Those two goals were the best demonstration of his ability and a deserved reward.
In fact, Milinkovic also received the Man of the Match award.
Whether in attack or defense, he delivered a near-perfect performance.
Sacchi, a columnist for The Guardian, wrote a piece analyzing Leeds United's tactics this season.
He noted that after the departures of Dele Alli and Kanté, Leeds United adjusted their midfield structure and tactics. The departure of center forward Harry Kane also brought huge changes to their system.
"Look at the four teams in this season's Champions League semi-finals. Juventus has Mandzukic, Manchester City has Harry Kane, and Liverpool's Firmino, though not a traditional striker, still plays as a center forward."
"Only Leeds United has Vardy, who is not a traditional center forward."
"But anyone who has watched them play must be surprised. This team seems to have no center forward, yet their attacking power is not weak. In many key moments, they still rely on long balls and high crosses."
"That's because they have Milinkovic."
Sacchi revealed that before selling Harry Kane, there had been long internal discussions at Leeds United, especially when Rashford was struggling as a striker.
"He grew too tall too quickly, which seriously affected his performance."
"Vardy could make up for Kane's goals, but not his tactical role."
"So Gao Shen suggested to Pochettino that Milinkovic could be used as a false nine, similar to how Moyes used Fellaini at Everton."
"As it turned out, Milinkovic has completely exploded this season."
Sacchi wrote that tactics are not complicated. The key is to build a system around the right player.
...
Following Sacchi's article, Gao Shen once again drew attention, while Milinkovic, personally chosen by him, rose to fame. This player truly played a crucial role.
According to the Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus' management held an emergency meeting overnight after the semi-final to discuss the second leg and summer transfer plans.
"Juventus president Andrea Agnelli mentioned two Leeds United players who performed brilliantly in the match: Milinkovic, who scored twice, and De Ligt, who excelled in defense."
The Juventus board agreed that both players could effectively fill their weaknesses, but they were also very expensive, possibly beyond the club's means.
De Ligt's current market value had already reached €100 million, a very high figure for a defender.
Milinkovic's value had been around €80 million before, but after his brace and rise to prominence, his price would undoubtedly climb higher.
"Juventus will need to prepare more funds if they intend to sign players from Leeds United."
Italian football transfer expert Di Marzio published an article on his website, suggesting Juventus should sign Milinkovic, as his arrival could solve many of their problems.
"He's a midfielder, but he can also push forward and act as a striker, which is very rare."
Di Marzio noted that Juventus already have attacking players like Ronaldo, Dybala, Douglas Costa, and Kean. If they add Milinkovic, the midfield pressure would ease, and their attacking options would expand.
"Mandzukic is already 33 years old."
Regarding the transfer fee, Di Marzio argued that in today's market, €100 million for Milinkovic is reasonable, especially if paid in installments, about €20 million per year, which Juventus could manage.
More importantly, Milinkovic, like most Leeds United players, earns a relatively low salary.
Transfer fees are one-time payments that can be spread out, but salaries are fixed annual expenses.
Therefore, clubs often consider salary first, then the transfer fee.
Leeds United's players have low salaries, which is very appealing to top clubs seeking reinforcements.
Di Marzio believed this was why so many elite teams were eager to sign Leeds United players.
...
Leeds United repeatedly denied the transfer rumors.
The club emphasized that Milinkovic was an essential player for the team.
However, over the years, everyone had come to understand that at Leeds United, no player was truly unsellable.
The reason a player isn't sold is simply that no one has offered the right price.
Gao Shen left the Allianz Stadium in Turin looking very satisfied.
Leeds United could have scored a fourth or even fifth goal before the final whistle, but their finishing lacked a bit of sharpness.
Of course, that was normal.
If every chance were converted, that would be unrealistic.
Still, seeing Agnelli's frustrated expression was enough. The Juventus president held his head in his hands, visibly pained, because everyone knew that losing 1-3 at home was almost a death sentence.
Judging by Juventus' performance, the chances of overturning the deficit in the second leg were close to zero.
But Gao Shen said nothing definite.
At the Allianz Stadium, he expressed satisfaction with his team's performance in interviews but reminded his players to stay calm and focused.
"Especially at times like these, we can't afford to relax, because our opponents are a tenacious team."
He refused to comment on the possibility of playing the final at home, saying it was too early to discuss that, and that Leeds United must first focus on the second leg.
"If we think we've already secured our spot, we're in danger. That's when elimination is closest."
What Gao Shen emphasized was mentality.
Was there a big gap in strength between Leeds United and Juventus?
Anyone who watched the first leg would say yes.
However, if the mindset falters, that gap is meaningless.
There have been plenty of similar cases in football history.
This was not only Gao Shen's view but also shared by Pochettino and Leeds United's management.
After returning to England, Pochettino and the club immediately issued a gag order, prohibiting players from discussing the Champions League final or the Premier League title.
The AXA Training Center also canceled fan activities, switching to closed training sessions.
Leeds United fans fully understood.
The season was nearing its end. The Premier League was about to conclude.
Leeds United could secure the league title with one game to spare if they beat Newcastle away, and reach the Champions League final if they defeat Juventus at home.
At such a critical moment, no one could afford a mistake.
Fans understood the tension and pressure, choosing to stand firmly behind the team.
That weekend, more than 5,000 Leeds United fans traveled north to Newcastle with the team, and the number kept rising.
At St James' Park, only 3,000 away tickets were available, located in the far upper stands with the worst view.
As a historic English club, Newcastle has always maintained a high attendance rate.
But this didn't dampen the enthusiasm of Leeds United supporters.
Everyone looked forward to seeing the team defend their Premier League crown, believing it would happen in this very match.
Countless fans scrambled to buy tickets from scalpers, causing prices for this weekend's fixture to soar.
The soon-to-open Westfield Shopping Centre announced that it would install large screens in the mall and along the high street to broadcast the match live, inviting all Leeds United fans to watch and witness their possible title defense.
However, many were concerned that Newcastle would be a tough opponent.
Their manager, Rafael Benítez, having just left Real Madrid, made this decisive match even more unpredictable.
And the course of the game seemed to confirm that.
In this highly anticipated clash, Benítez deployed a defensive strategy centered on counter-attacks.
Leeds United relied on Arnold's outstanding performance, providing two assists for Vardy and Mbappe to score.
Newcastle took the lead twice, but equalized both times through quick counter-attacks.
Especially in the second half, Leeds United grew increasingly anxious, and the momentum clearly shifted against them.
(To be continued.)