The next morning, sunlight poured softly through the windows of Mateo's room.
Still exhausted from the emotions of the previous day, he rubbed his eyes and stretched, the memories flashing back:
The match against Barcelona.The goals.The celebrations.The handshake with Lamine.
He smiled faintly, disbelief still lingering in his chest.
His phone buzzed beside him.
A message from Klara.
đ© "Have you seen it yet?"
Mateo blinked, confused."Seen what?" he texted back.
Seconds later, another message arrived â a photo attached.
He tapped it open âand froze.
It was the cover of the newest edition of Kicker Sportmagazin.
His heart skipped a beat.
There it was âthe same cover the father of Klara had shown him weeks ago in his study.
But now it was real.Printed.Circulating everywhere.
In bold letters across the page:
"MATEO GONZĂLEZ SCHWARZ â THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA"
And there he was, captured mid-dribble âintensity, skill, and passion radiating from the image.
It looked... surreal.
Before he could process it fully, another buzz.
Another message from Klara:
"You're famous now, Mateo. Everyone's talking about you. â€ïž"
"Check inside the magazine too!"
Curious, Mateo pulled on a hoodie, grabbed his bike, and sped down to the nearest shop.
He bought a copy of the magazine and immediately flipped it open, heart racing.
There, just a few pages in, he found it.
Another full-page spread.
A photograph of himself and Lamine Yamal, smiling as they shook hands and exchanged jerseys after the match.
The headline above the image read:
"A New Generation Rises: Mateo GonzĂĄlez vs. Lamine Yamal â Future Kings of World Football"
The article praised both prodigies:
Mateo, described as a "dynamic force blending South American magic with European precision,"
and Lamine, as "a genius forged in Barcelona's golden tradition, fearless and creative."
They compared their styles, their potential, and even their humble beginnings.
The final paragraph sent a chill down Mateo's spine:
"The football world has seen legendary rivalries before â Messi vs Ronaldo, PelĂ© vs Maradona.But perhaps, today, we witnessed the birth of the next great saga."
Mateo stared at the pages, feeling a strange swirl of pride, nervousness, and determination.
Was this real?
Was he truly standing at the edge of something so monumental?
He inhaled deeply, steadying himself.
That afternoon at Bayern's training ground, the reactions confirmed it.
His teammates clapped and whistled when he entered.MĂŒller called out jokingly, "Hey superstar! Save some autographs for us too!"
Even Kompany gave him a proud nod.No speeches.No fanfare.
Just a silent acknowledgment:
"Now the world knows your name."
Training was as intense as ever.
Hard tackles.Fast passes.Precise movements.
Exactly what Mateo craved.He didn't want special treatment.
He wanted to earn everything.
Later that night, back in his room, he lay on his bed holding the magazine.
He traced his fingers over the photo of himself and Lamine.
Two young lions.Two futures intertwined.
Inside his mind, he summoned the System.
"System," he said calmly,"Show me my missions."
The familiar golden panels appeared.
New objectives gleamed in front of him:
Establish Yourself as a Key Player (Senior Level)
Win a Starting Spot in Competitive Matches
Score 10 Goals in the Bundesliga
Become a Fan Favorite
Mateo smiled.
His heart steady now.