"Leo Lin is here—the biggest favorite for this year's Golden Boy Award!"
Leo Lin stepped out of the car with unmistakable presence, as Barnett had deliberately built up an imposing wave of attention around him.
In an instant, all eyes turned toward Leo Lin.
He exchanged greetings and handshakes with several friends from the football world, then made his way into the venue.
Guests entered one by one in an orderly fashion, their seating carefully arranged. Barnett sat toward the back with other heavyweight agents, observing the ceremony. The middle-front rows were reserved for legends of the game, while the very front belonged to the brightest young talents of today.
Leo Lin was seated alongside Mbappe and the others.
The lights in the hall went out completely. A moment later, a spotlight shone directly onto the center of the stage as the host appeared, dressed in an elegant suit and formal attire.
"Welcome, everyone, to Turin, and to this year's Golden Boy Awards ceremony!"
"This award honors young players who have competed in European clubs and delivered outstanding performances over the past year."
"And the final result… is right here in my hands."
Melissa passed the envelope to Casillas. He slowly opened it, pulled out the card, glanced at it—and a playful smile appeared on his face.
Just like the exaggerated suspense before a final reveal on a competitive variety show, the two of them deliberately dragged out the moment, drawing waves of laughter from the audience.
"And now, I officially announce the winner of this year's European Golden Boy Award!"
"He is—"
"Lin!!!"
"Thanks to his exceptional performances at club level, and especially his leadership in winning the U17 World Cup, Lin has claimed the European Golden Boy Award!"
"People will never forget his remarkable contribution in leading the Spanish U17 national team to World Cup glory!"
Thunderous applause erupted instantly as the camera cut to a close-up of Leo Lin.
Calm and composed, Leo Lin stood up and buttoned his suit jacket.
The venue exploded with cheers and applause.
At that moment, everyone's attention was fixed squarely on Leo Lin.
Still fastening his jacket, he walked steadily onto the stage as Casillas presented him with the Golden Boy trophy. Under the lights, the trophy gleamed brilliantly as Leo Lin raised it high for the audience to see.
The applause refused to die down, and fans watching the live broadcast were beside themselves with excitement.
Nearly a full minute passed before the clapping finally began to fade.
Barnett was unquestionably the last person to stop applauding. Even after everyone around him had lowered their hands, he kept clapping with all his might, as if afraid anyone might miss it.
"Hear that? That's Barnett's love for me," Leo Lin said with a grin, lifting the trophy and waving it toward Barnett.
The hall burst into laughter, then gradually fell quiet again.
"It's a great honor to stand here. To actually be holding the Golden Boy Award right now… I truly have so much I want to say."
"First, I want to thank my parents. They should be traveling somewhere in the world right now, enjoying themselves. I'm not sure if they're watching the livestream."
"But I believe they are—because today, I'm someone who makes them proud. Ever since I was a child, whether I got good grades or achieved bigger goals, my parents always told me they were proud of me."
"It was that encouragement that gave me the confidence to face the world from a young age, because my parents have always been a constant source of strength for me."
At that very moment, Leo Lin's parents were in a bar, where the television was broadcasting the ceremony live. Fans surrounded them, and some had already recognized Charles Lin.
Charles Lin raised his glass high toward the crowd.
"See that? That's my son!"
His face was filled with pride.
"I taught him how to play football when he was little. Winning the Golden Boy Award? That's all thanks to this old man's guidance!"
"And those free kicks and long-range shots—purely inherited from my genes. No doubt about it. Like father, like son!"
Beside him, Julia shook her head helplessly. She knew that once Charles Lin had too much to drink, the boasting was inevitable.
Back on stage, Leo Lin continued.
"I'm deeply grateful to Liverpool FC for giving me the opportunity to stay and compete in the top five leagues."
"Thanks as well to Mike, the chairman of Liverpool, and to my agent Barnett for all the help they've given me."
"The football world can be simple, and it can also be complicated. Sometimes, what you face isn't just football—you have to think about many other things."
"But compared to worrying about all that, what I'm best at is playing football. That's why I need Barnett. He's far better than I am at handling those matters."
"He's the best agent in the world—and the one who suits me best."
Those words left Barnett completely satisfied. Leaning back in his seat, he looked at the radiant Leo Lin on stage and felt as though he had truly crafted a perfect work of art.
"Finally, I want to thank myself—for never giving up on this path of football."
Leo Lin lifted the trophy high above his head.
"Everyone—those watching the livestream, and everyone here tonight!"
"What I want to tell you is this: never give up on your dreams!"
"There will always be people who stand up and tell you that you can't do it. There will always be people who doubt you, who say you're just a worthless stone instead of a block of gold."
"No matter how high you climb, there will always be people who dislike you and try to tear down your confidence with their words. You may never know their motives, but you must never let them succeed."
"In this world, only your belief in yourself determines how much strength you have to stand up against it."
"That strength is incredibly important in life—its value far exceeds money itself."
"It helps you overcome hardship and keep moving forward. If you stop moving, life loses its meaning, and once meaning fades, everything becomes darker and more empty."
"So, when facing every difficulty and obstacle, the only thing we need to do is draw out the energy within us and declare it firmly to the world!"
"I am willing to sacrifice my life for my dreams!"
"I will give everything I have for my dreams!"
"I will stake it all on my dreams!"
"And I will take action for my dreams!"