"Stoppage time!"
"Don't let your guard down!"
"Hold on!"
"We'll be World Champions very soon!"
Amidst Schweinsteiger's shouts, despite their physical exhaustion, the German Team players still stepped up, intercepting and blocking every attack from the Argentina players.
Mark Lane also felt his legs growing heavier and his breathing becoming more rapid.
However, he clenched his teeth, constantly moving horizontally with the team's formation, pressing and tackling.
He knew very well that if they just held on for a few more minutes, he would be able to personally lift the world cup trophy that all professional players dreamed of!
However, as the game entered the second minute of stoppage time, Argentina finally created a foul by Hummels with Aguero's breakthrough in the front field, earning a set-piece opportunity!
The foul occurred in the middle, only about twenty-six or twenty-seven meters from the goal.
And Messi naturally stood in front of the ball without hesitation.
Hummels, Schweinsteiger, Mark Lane, and Höwedes stood in a line, forming a wall in front of Messi.
After checking the height of the wall and observing the goalkeeper Neuer's positioning, Messi solemnly stepped on the grass in front of the ball, measuring his run-up steps.
Messi also knew very well that this might be the team's last chance to threaten the opponent's goal.
It was also his last chance to save himself and his team!
The immense pressure forced him to take a deep breath.
"Messi is taking this free-kick..."
"All of Argentina's hopes are placed on the shoulders of this Barça superstar. Can he lead the team to a comeback from the brink?"
"Or, will extreme individualism ultimately lose to collectivism?"
Under the expectant gaze of millions of Argentina fans, Messi ran up to the ball.
The next second, the inside of his left foot struck the ball fiercely!
Perhaps he tried to put too much power into it, as the ball, after clearing the wall, did not hit within the goal frame, but flew directly over the crossbar!
Watching the ball fly over the crossbar, Messi's face briefly showed a hint of pain and disappointment, then he lowered his head.
And countless Argentina people, whether in the stands or in front of their televisions, couldn't help but sigh.
Their idol failed to score the goal and equalize the score.
And with this missed free-kick, the spirit that had kept the Argentina players fighting until now seemed to be drained from their bodies.
In the next two minutes, the Argentina players repeatedly lobbed the ball into the front field, only to have it cleared by the German Team again and again.
Finally, after a long-range shot from Messi went slightly over the crossbar, the Italian referee Rizzoli checked his watch and then blew the whistle.
Beep ~ Whoosh ~ ~ Whoosh ~ ~
The moment the whistle blew, the entire Maracanã Stadium erupted.
Müller, Hummels, and others knelt on the ground, roaring to the sky!
And Mark Lane raised his arms, his face full of smiles, welcoming the moment of victory!
At the same time, a pleasant system prompt sounded in his mind:
[Ding]
[Congratulations to the host for completing the season mission World Cup Champion]
[Reward: Fifty potential points!]
[Ding]
[Congratulations to the host for completing the season mission World Cup Golden Boot]
[Reward: Ten potential points]
[Ding]
[Congratulations to the host for completing the season mission World Cup Best Young Player]
[Reward: Five potential points]
At the same time, the substitutes who had been waiting on the sidelines for a long time rushed onto the field in a swarm.
Klose, Little Draxler, and several others ran towards Mark Lane in unison, giving this hero of the decisive goal a big hug.
Seeing the equally excited Götze, Mark Lane's heart rippled:
"Mario, the immense luck of scoring the winning goal against Argentina is too heavy, and the backlash is too strong. You can't handle it, let me do it!"
"I have a cheat, I can handle it!"
Götze, of course, didn't know that Mark Lane had stolen his protagonist's script. He just excitedly put his arm around Mark Lane's shoulder, celebrating by jumping around on the field together.
"Full-time!"
"The German Team are champions!!!"
"Thanks to Mark Lane's direct free-kick goal, the German Team defeated Argentina and stood at the pinnacle of the world!"
"The German Team became the first European team to win in South America!!!"
If the tears in the eyes of the German Team players were tears of joy, then the tears flowing down the faces of the Argentina players were tears of unwillingness, disappointment, and sadness.
Rojo slumped to the ground, Aguero cried into his hands...
And Messi just stood there silently, his eyes unfocused, head down, wondering what he was thinking.
Perhaps he was thinking about that one-on-one low shot during the game, or about that free-kick opportunity. If he had scored, would things have been different?
However, no matter what, he was the loser in this match.
And in competitive sports, the winner takes all, and the loser is nothing!
After the match ended, the German Team's families also entered the field to celebrate with the players.
Mark Lane, alone, went directly to the interview area on the sidelines to accept interviews from reporters:
"Congratulations, Mark Lane, you are World Champions!"
"Hahaha, thank you."
"By the way, you also won the Golden Boot!"
It was only after the reporter's reminder that Mark Lane suddenly remembered that he had not only helped the German Team win the World Cup but had also scored a goal to overtake J-Rod, crowning him the World Cup Golden Boot!
"At eighteen years old, you helped the team win the World Cup; such an achievement is simply amazing."
"Can you share your feelings with us now?"
"I am very happy and excited; this is the most important moment of my life."
"It is also my honor to be able to win the championship with this excellent team..."
And after the interview, Mark Lane was about to turn and leave to continue celebrating with his teammates.
Just then, a somewhat familiar voice came from the stands:
"Mark Lane!"
Following the sound, Mark Lane saw Esther Hitsch, wearing a baseball cap, waving at him with a smile!
And next to her was Raiola, wearing a pair of exquisite sunglasses.
"Esther?!"
Seeing this, a somewhat surprised Mark Lane couldn't help but go to the stands and said to her across the railing:
"Why are you here?"
"You invited me to watch the game! Then Mr. Raiola contacted me, so I came!"
Hearing this, Mark Lane was first stunned, exchanged glances with Raiola, and then smiled:
"Oh... So, do you want to come down and celebrate with us?"
Hearing this invitation, Hisch hesitated for a moment, looked at the long lenses already pointed at the two of them, and the excitement and exhilaration in her heart instantly overshadowed her shyness and nervousness:
"Okay!"
Hearing the affirmative reply, Mark Lane shouted to the security guard in front of the railing:
"Hey! Those two are my friends, let them come over!"
Hearing this, the two security guards made way, allowing Raiola and Hisch to enter the field.
As soon as she came over, Esther gave Mark Lane a big hug.
"Congratulations, Mark Lane!"
"Thank you! I'm glad you could come!"
"You're amazing! That goal was simply spectacular!"
Infected by the atmosphere, the girl's cheeks were rosy, like ripe red apples, making one want to take a bite.
"Hahaha."
And Raiola also gave Mark Lane a bear hug:
"Buddy, congratulations! How does it feel to be a World Cup champion?"
"It's f***ing awesome!"
"And you, how does it feel to be the agent of both the World Cup champion and the World Cup Golden Boot?"
Facing Mark Lane's rhetorical question, Raiola smiled and gave the same answer:
"It's f***ing awesome!"
While Mark Lane was chatting with the two, Löw also walked over from the side.
He first gave Mark Lane a big hug, then shook hands with Raiola.
Then he put his arm around Mark Lane's shoulder and raised an eyebrow at Hisch:
"Buddy, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"
As soon as he said this, Mark Lane and Esther couldn't help but look at each other. The girl shyly avoided his gaze, then waved her hand to clarify:
"I'm not his girlfriend."
"Coach, this is my good friend, Esther!"
"Hello, Mr. Löw."
Shaking hands with Hisch, Löw smiled slightly, "Oh, I apologize for my presumption. I thought you two were a couple..."
As soon as he said this, Mark Lane and Hisch looked at each other again.
This time, she did not avoid his gaze again.
Facing her intense gaze, Mark Lane could only laugh, "Haha, maybe we just look like a good match?"
"Yes, that should be the case."
After Löw, Müller, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, and other teammates also came forward to greet Mark Lane, and all of them mistook Hisch for his girlfriend.
While Mark Lane was explaining his relationship with Hisch to his teammates one by one, the on-site staff had already set up the podium.
However, before the collective award ceremony, Mark Lane first received his World Cup Golden Boot and World Cup Best Young Player awards!
"Young man, congratulations! Your performance was truly outstanding!"
"Thank you, Mr. President."
Receiving the Golden Boot and Best Young Player awards from FIFA President Blatter, Mark Lane held the Golden Boot in one hand and the Best Young Player award in the other, facing the media's long lenses and short cannons, enduring a frantic barrage of flash photography.
After the photoshoot, Mark Lane handed the Golden Boot and Best Young Player awards to Raiola, asking him to temporarily hold them for him.
Immediately after, the World Cup award ceremony officially began.
The first award presented was the Golden Glove award.
Neuer, the German Team's goalkeeping god, who conceded only five goals in this tournament, was well-deserved!
Next, it was the World Cup Ballon d'Or.
This award was given to the Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, who led his team to the final and almost reached the pinnacle of the world!
However, Messi simply walked onto the podium with a calm expression and accepted what was merely a consolation trophy.
Subsequently, the German Team players lined up on both sides, allowing the Argentina players to pass through, not forgetting to applaud their opponents as a gesture of respect.
After the Argentina players received their runner-up medals, the German Team players also stepped onto the podium to receive their championship medals.
Finally, Captain Lahm received the world cup trophy from Brazil's President Rousseff.
Then he came among the already eager German Team players and suddenly lifted the golden trophy in his hands!
Clap clap clap!
Accompanied by ceremonial cannons, golden confetti flying everywhere, and roaring fireworks, the entire sky was dyed gold.
Inside the Maracanã Stadium, continuous cheers and applause immediately erupted.
First Lahm, then Müller, then Klose... And Mark Lane, standing next to Klose, also received the world cup trophy from Klose's hands and excitedly raised it high!
The young man's spirited demeanor, combined with the golden trophy in his hands, perfectly encapsulated the meaning of instant fame known throughout the world at this very moment!
"This World Cup belongs to Germany, and even more so, it belongs to Mark Lane!"
"From today onwards, the world of football will remember this young man's name."
"Mark Lane!"
For Mark Lane, in this World Cup, he not only scored a super free-kick to win against Argentina, overtook J-Rod to claim the World Cup Golden Boot, but also stepped on one of the two greatest players of his generation, Messi, to reach the pinnacle of the world!
There could not be a more perfect ending than this script!
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