The excitement was almost uncontrollable.
For Kai, he was even willing to have Xavi completely adapted to a No. 4 role.
"Must make the club continue to try negotiating a bid!"
Guardiola began to strategize.
Previously, Barcelona's offer of €150 million had seemed laughably low.
Meanwhile, seated in the audience,
there was no shortage of representatives from top clubs:
Manchester City and Chelsea financial backers
Sir Alex Ferguson, Glazer family
Paris Saint-Germain investors
Countless top-club executives were brainstorming at that very moment,
furiously calculating how they could successfully acquire Kai with just half a month left before the winter transfer window closed.
As the Best XI awards concluded,
a series of other awards were quickly presented.
Next up:
The Puskás Award!
For this year's Puskás Award,
the three nominated goals began playing on the big screen.
The final three nominees:
Messi, Rooney, and Kai!
Ronaldo in the audience looked a little uneasy.
Tonight, he seemed like an outsider.
As the goals nominated for Messi and Rooney were displayed,
both watched silently, and then it was time for Kai's nominated goal.
The cameras captured the moment when Kai's goal was played for the entire audience:
an astonishing solo run from the North London Derby against Spurs—a breathtaking 80-meter dash with the ball, a solo charge all the way to goal!
The goal left Messi speechless.
Could anything compare?
Messi's nominated goal had been a tight-angle strike after consecutive dribbles in the Champions League.
Rooney's nomination was a high-quality bicycle kick.
Individually, those goals were impressive—certainly among the best of the year.
But compared to Kai's goal?
It was like a child facing a giant.
Even more astonishing:
the media at the scene knew well that the FIFA judges had been overwhelmed just selecting this one goal from Kai's countless stunning goals of the year.
"I can't agree—still think that scissor kick was more brilliant!"
"Another solo run at Anfield against Liverpool should be better than this one!"
"No, Kai's long-range strike from midfield during his Crystal Palace days is even more convincing!"
The media erupted into heated debate.
Everyone was stunned.
Any of the other discussed goals, in any previous year's Puskás Award, would have been uncontroversial winners.
As Kai's goal video finished playing,
the opera house erupted into a climax.
Rooney had already left the stage.
Messi's agent whispered something in his ear, seemingly to console him.
Messi had been nominated for the Puskás Award multiple times but had always been the perennial runner-up—never winning.
The award presenter stepped onto the stage and opened the envelope containing the winner's name.
Finally,
Kai's name was called out!
"Kai!!"
The entire venue exploded!
Accompanying Kai were Wenger, Rice, and other Arsenal representatives, applauding vigorously.
Even Ronaldo seemed momentarily dazed.
He had thought he heard the sound of his classic celebration echoing on stage!
The Portuguese superstar rubbed his face in frustration.
Under thousands of eyes,
Kai stepped forward and claimed his Puskás Award.
Facing the cameras, he proudly displayed the trophy!
Countless spotlights shone on him.
Fans watching the live broadcast worldwide skyrocketed in number!
After most of the other awards were handed out,
the ultimate climax of the year-end ceremony arrived:
The Ballon d'Or!
The Zurich Opera House erupted!
This was the year's most sensational and representative individual award.
The Ballon d'Or represented the pinnacle of personal achievement.
With the Ballon d'Or merged with FIFA World Player of the Year,
its prestige skyrocketed.
Winning it was equivalent to claiming the World Player award for the year.
Cheers erupted under thousands of eyes.
This year's presenter was Ronaldo (the Brazilian "Phenomenon"),
the youngest dual winner of the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player.
Having him present added a special significance to this year's award.
The final three nominees were displayed on the big screen,
sending the venue into a frenzy:
Kai, Messi, Ronaldo!
The top three in the current football market value rankings shared the Ballon d'Or final stage.
The media went into a frenzy.
Would Messi win again?
Would Ronaldo rise to the occasion?
Or could a 17-year-old Arsenal captain, Kai, who had already claimed the Golden Boy award last year after just over one season, break the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly this year?
Winning the Ballon d'Or under the eyes of millions?!
Facing the blazing spotlight,
Ronaldo on stage as the award presenter tore open the envelope.
The entire venue went silent.
The media's eyes burned with intensity.
This was a historic moment!
Hundreds of millions of fans watching the live broadcast focused their gaze on the stage!
"Yes!"
"Kai!!"
On stage, Kai's name was shouted aloud!
The suspense was completely shattered.
On the screen, Messi and Ronaldo's images disappeared.
Only one dazzling name remained:
Kai!!
The Zurich Opera House erupted instantly!
A moment worthy of being recorded in history!
A 17-year-old dual winner of the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year had been born!
Under the gaze of countless eyes,
Kai adjusted his suit collar and stepped onto the podium.
At that very moment,
the entire world of football went into an uproar.
A new era had begun.
This moment marked the start of a grand, historic chapter in football!
~~----------------------
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