Every World Cup, some players' reputations soar, but no matter what, these players might just be unknown to outsiders; within the circle, they still have some fame.
Lin Hao, on the other hand, went from being completely unknown to instantly famous.
Such stories are the easiest to attract attention and discussion.
Especially in Dragon Country, since Lin Hao is a Dragon descendant player, and coupled with the fact that Dragon Country has the most World Cup fans during the World Cup, the intensity of discussion is the highest under various factors.
"No, World Cup fans, don't be too outrageous, okay? Anyone who understands a bit about football knows that his skill is really not good, right?"
"He can play football too?"
"Brazil Team football is truly finished. This time they relied on sheer luck; what will they rely on next time?"
"Stop discussing him; he really isn't worth this much discussion!"
"..."
To be honest, these comments were a bit beyond Lin Hao's expectations.
He thought, at the very least, there should be some discussion about why he could appear in the World Cup.
He really didn't expect there to be nothing but a chorus of criticism.
Logically, this was somewhat unreasonable. After all, he helped the Brazil Team successfully advance to the next round.
The Brazil Team has many fans worldwide, so why did it feel like he was being universally condemned?
But Lin Hao had no choice but to accept it.
The World Cup matches were also in full swing, and soon, the next round of matches arrived, Neymar also recovered from his injury, and the Brazil Team faced a truly strong opponent, the Belgium Team.
The Red Devils of Europe!
This was Belgium's golden generation, a truly strong contender for the championship that didn't rely on reputation.
This match was also called one of the most exciting matches of this World Cup. The final result was that Lin Hao anxiously watched the entire match from the sidelines, not getting a chance to play.
And the Brazil Team, with a score of one to two, unfortunately lost the match.
After the match, the Brazil Team players shed tears of unwillingness.
Lin Hao stood in his substitute spot, not taking a step forward, silently clenching his fists and lowering his head.
After the match, some media came to interview him. Although he helped the team advance in the previous match, the media's focus was still on the star players.
Only a small reporter from Dragon Country came to interview him, asking, "You helped the Brazil Team advance, and then you didn't get a chance to play when they were eliminated. What are your thoughts on this?"
Lin Hao said with a serious expression, "In 2006, Brazil lost to France! They defeated Croatia, Australia, Japan, and Ghana!"
"In 2010, Brazil lost to Netherlands, defeating teams like Côte d'Ivoire and Chile!"
"In 2014, they defeated Cameroon, Chile, and Colombia, and were eliminated by Germany with a large score!"
"What I want to say is, please all Brazil Team fans put away your arrogance. From the results, we can see that in the World Cup, since winning the championship in 2002, we have never defeated a top-tier strong team!"
"That is to say, we are not the five-star Brazil Team, the world's number one anymore! At best, we are at the tail end of top-tier strong teams, or even a second-tier team in the world!"
"If we don't put away our arrogance, we will face even worse results!"
The reporter holding the mic for Lin Hao was trembling, excited about getting a big scoop.
And after the match, Lin Hao's remarks undoubtedly ignited the internet.
At this moment, Brazil Team fans emerged!
Brazil Team fans were already upset about the loss, and then they were subjected to such remarks from their own young player, so Lin Hao was once again attacked en masse.
The insults were as harsh as they could be, but Lin Hao was facing an even worse situation than this.
This might have been his best chance to enter professional football.
But Lin Hao himself knew that his performance in the World Cup, for the Brazil Team, might have been a rescue, and it brought him the experience of becoming an overnight sensation.
However, for a professional team, considering various factors, Lin Hao was certainly not a qualified player.
A player who becomes famous overnight in the World Cup is usually a target for major clubs to snatch up, but Lin Hao was ignored.
At the farewell party before leaving the Brazil Team, Fernandinho specifically sought out Lin Hao, "Kid, I still stand by what I said. I still believe that you cannot play professionally, and no team will want you!"
"If you want to refute me, if you have the ability, respond to me with your performance in matches, just like before. If you can truly convince me, I will grant you a wish!"
Lin Hao sat on the training ground, looking at the dwindling balance in his card.
Tomorrow, he wouldn't even be able to afford the training ground.
People's fast-paced lives, the operations of various clubs during the off-season, and new stars rising in the World Cup that were even more dazzling and brilliant than him—the young Mbappé, with his absolutely formidable strength, won the World Cup championship and the golden trophy, the dream of countless people, at eighteen.
He was hailed as the successor to Messi and Ronaldo.
These things filled people's eyes every day, making them quickly forget him.
A fan's comment was very apt and fitting: "It was nothing more than a flash in the pan!"
Just then, Lin Hao's phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was his mother!
Lin Hao answered the phone and called out, "Mom!"
"Oh, son, go to school! Is that okay?"
"Mom!" Lin Hao said somewhat helplessly, "Whether I play football or not, I still have to go to school!"
"Mom knows! I just want to tell you, I know I can't control you, and you're much more obedient than most kids. Mom understands all this! But do you know what people fear most?"
"What people fear most is being half-full and sloshing around! Even if you go to school and graduate, will you be content with a job?"
"You have talent, you have ambition, but Dad and Mom don't have the ability or money to support you in playing football. This isn't your fault; it's our fault!"
Lin Hao's other hand was already tightly clenched, his teeth gritted. He buried his head in his knees, silent for a while. Hearing no further words from the phone, Lin Hao finally spoke, trying his best to mask his emotions, "And then?"
There was silence on the other end of the phone. After a short silence, a voice came again, "Mom just wants to tell you, so you have an idea!"
"I know!" Lin Hao immediately interjected, "Mom, I have something else to do, I'm hanging up now!"
Lin Hao immediately hung up the phone. He didn't know if all parents were like this; their words clearly sounded well-intentioned, but why did they always talk about things that couldn't be solved?
Why only talk about problems, without mentioning how to solve them, and without being able to solve them?
Perhaps this is what it's like to be a parent, yet powerless, only able to remind their children again and again.
But how much pressure does this bit of concern, or rather, words that make parents feel at ease and that they have done their duty, put on their children?
Yet they are always concerned about you, and genuinely wish you well, leaving you to digest and struggle on your own.
Lin Hao simply calmed his emotions. This might be the struggle every teenager has to go through, and it's something that can't be resolved!
Lin Hao was already in England; he was already a student at a school in London.
London is the place with the most football teams. He doesn't lack the courage to start over. If no team wants him, he will join an amateur team. He will climb step by step. He believes that one day, his glory will come!
However, he didn't expect that his entry into a professional team still had a turning point, and it was even a 'prestigious club'!