Chapter Summaries

Lin Feng ended his scoring streak but continued to lead Real Madrid through a strong run of league and Champions League results, while Chen Tao impressed against his friend in Bremen. As the 2007 Ballon d'Or ceremony approached, Lin Feng emerged as the overwhelming favorite, with the winner still to be announced.

• Lin Feng gave Liu Yifei a villa, and she kissed him on the cheek before leaving without securing a key.
• Lin Feng assisted Raul in Real Madrid's 1–0 win over Murcia, then assisted again in a 2–2 draw with Werder Bremen, where Chen Tao scored and was named Most Valuable Player.
• After two matches without a goal, Lin Feng scored twice against Racing Santander and later hit the winner against Athletic Bilbao, helping Real Madrid extend their lead in La Liga.
• Real Madrid rotated their lineup against Lazio and won 3–1, while Guti scored once and assisted twice and Diarra returned from injury.
• As the Ballon d'Or ceremony neared, Lin Feng, Kaka, and Cristiano Ronaldo were predicted to make the top three, with Lin Feng the clear favorite to win.

Lin Feng prepared for the Ballon d'Or ceremony after scoring twice in Real Madrid’s 2–0 win over Osasuna. At the ceremony, Pelé announced Lin Feng as the winner of both the Ballon d'Or and World Player of the Year.

• Lin Feng scored twice as Real Madrid defeated Osasuna 2–0, and Raul gave him a penalty kick to take as a congratulatory gesture.
• On December 18, Pelé and several football stars arrived at the Zurich Opera House for the awards ceremony, where reporters crowded around Lin Feng and the other contenders.
• Lin Feng and Kaka sat together and reminisced, while Cristiano Ronaldo took a seat behind them and exchanged glares with Messi.
• The ceremony presented several awards before Marta received the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year honor.
• Pelé opened the winners’ envelope, paused to build suspense, and announced Lin Feng as the winner of both the Ballon d'Or and World Player of the Year.

Lin Feng won the Ballon d'Or by a huge margin, becoming the first Chinese and Asian player to claim the award and sparking celebrations and commercial interest across Asia. After returning to Real Madrid with the trophy, he prepared with his teammates for the crucial El Clásico against Barcelona, where he would face Messi.

• Pelé announced Lin Feng as the Ballon d'Or winner, and Lin Feng accepted the trophy before finishing first with 1,478 points, far ahead of Kaka and the other runners-up.
• Liu Yifei celebrated Lin Feng's win from China, and her mother discovered her watching the ceremony late at night.
• Chinese media widely reported Lin Feng's victory, while sponsors from across Asia sought endorsements and Mendes realized Lin Feng's portrait-rights negotiations had protected his future earnings.
• Lin Feng returned to Real Madrid's training base with the trophy, where his teammates and Mourinho gathered to see it.
• Real Madrid resumed training ahead of their away El Clásico against Barcelona, with the match's title implications and Lin Feng's rivalry with Messi drawing attention.

Mourinho roused Real Madrid before El Clásico by provoking the players, and Lin Feng and Messi prepared to renew their rivalry. Real Madrid dominated the opening minutes at Camp Nou, but Van Nistelrooy’s apparent goal was ruled out for offside.

• Mourinho used Barcelona’s insults and doubts about his players to fire up Real Madrid, and Raul and Lin Feng answered his challenges.
• Messi vowed to defeat Lin Feng, while Feng Xiaoting arranged to meet Lin Feng after the match.
• Real Madrid took the initiative at Camp Nou, with Lin Feng helping create early chances against Barcelona.
• Lin Feng sent Van Nistelrooy through with a long pass, but the assistant referee ruled the resulting goal offside.
• Van Nistelrooy and Mourinho protested the decision, but the referee did not change the call.

Lin Feng broke the deadlock in El Clásico by dribbling past Barcelona's defenders and scoring with a curling shot, putting Real Madrid ahead 1–0. Barcelona had to respond after his goal, while Feng Xiaoting returned to the pitch after a courageous goal-line clearance.

• Real Madrid's protests over an offside call failed, and Messi then dribbled through several defenders before taking a shot.
• Lin Feng combined with his teammates and shot in Barcelona's box, but Feng Xiaoting blocked the ball on the goal line and struck the post; after a medical check, he returned to play.
• Lin Feng's corner found Pepe, whose header went straight into Valdes's arms, and Rijkaard assigned Yaya Touré to mark Lin Feng.
• Cannavaro intercepted Xavi's pass and started a counterattack, allowing Lin Feng to receive the ball and dribble past Abidal, Feng Xiaoting, and Puyol.
• Lin Feng used a Flip-Flap to beat Puyol and curled a shot into the far corner, giving Real Madrid a 1–0 lead.

Lin Feng scored twice in the first half and added a third after a swift Real Madrid counterattack, giving Real Madrid a commanding 3-0 lead over Barcelona at Camp Nou. He became the first player from either club to score a hat-trick in his first El Clásico, as Barcelona continued to struggle to turn possession into goals.

• Lin Feng scored a direct free kick from nearly 40 meters to put Real Madrid 2-0 ahead before halftime.
• Real Madrid's players discussed helping Lin Feng complete a hat-trick, while Raul argued that his achievement would hurt Barcelona even more.
• Ronaldinho briefly sparked Barcelona's attack after halftime, but Rijkaard substituted him for Iniesta after his form faded and his stamina ran out.
• Iniesta and Barcelona created chances, but Casillas and Real Madrid's defense kept them scoreless despite their heavy possession.
• Raul led a three-pass counterattack and passed to Lin Feng, who scored into the empty goal to complete his hat-trick and make it 3-0.

Lin Feng scored a hat trick as Real Madrid beat Barcelona 3–0 at Camp Nou, then returned to China for the Olympic team’s final training camp of 2007. He arrived in Kunming to find several veteran players had joined the squad as potential overage selections.

• Lin Feng scored his third goal after Raul passed to him, and Real Madrid celebrated as Barcelona’s fans began leaving the stadium.
• Messi’s late shot was saved by Casillas, and the referee ended the match with Barcelona’s 34-match home unbeaten league streak broken.
• Lin Feng ate with Feng Xiaoting and Wu Lei, advised Wu Lei to develop patiently, and learned that Josep Guardiola coached Barcelona’s youth team.
• Newspapers praised Lin Feng’s performance, and he flew home during the international break to join the Olympic team’s training camp in Kunming.
• Lin Feng greeted his Olympic teammates and learned from Zheng Zhi that veterans including Li Weifeng, Han Peng, Shao Jiayi, Sun Jihai, and Sun Xiang had joined the camp as overage candidates.

China's Olympic team opened its Beijing Olympics preparations by defeating the United States team 3:0 in Kunming, with Lin Feng contributing two assists and a goal. After the match, the American players swarmed him for souvenirs, leaving him stripped of his kit and the subject of mocking headlines.

• Klopp used the open training sessions to assess how the overage players fit with the Olympic squad before choosing different lineups for the two friendlies.
• China's Olympic team took the lead in the 24th minute when Zheng Zhi scored after Lin Feng set up a chance that Gao Lin missed.
• Lin Feng assisted Gao Lin's goal in the 38th minute, and Wang Dalei saved Altidore's shot before halftime.
• Lin Feng assisted Mao Jianqing's chance and scored from a free kick as China beat the United States team 3:0.
• Klopp substituted Lin Feng, and Wang Yongpo later set up a chance that Zhu Ting missed.
• After the final whistle, the United States players chased Lin Feng for his kit and other belongings, and newspapers mocked the incident in their headlines.

The Olympic team beat the United States twice as Lin Feng shifted the attack to Sun Jihai’s flank, and Klopp began questioning his relationship with Tan Wensong. After returning to Real Madrid, Lin Feng rested before scoring twice against Levante, finishing La Liga’s first half with record-breaking statistics as the club drew AS Roma in the Champions League Round of 16.

• Lin Feng directed more attacks down the right, where Sun Jihai assisted in the Olympic team’s 2–0 victory over the United States, and Klopp suspected Lin Feng disliked Tan Wensong.
• Real Madrid rested Lin Feng against Zaragoza and won 2–0 before drawing AS Roma in the Champions League Round of 16.
• Lin Feng warned his teammates not to underestimate AS Roma, while Adriano welcomed the chance to see him again.
• Real Madrid beat Levante 2–0 as Lin Feng scored both goals, while Messi also scored twice in Barcelona’s 4–0 win over Murcia.
• Lin Feng ended the first half of La Liga with 26 goals and 12 assists in 16 appearances, breaking the league’s century-old half-season scoring record.

Lin Feng chose Nike for an endorsement deal while Mendes advised him to protect his playing form as commercial offers poured in. During the winter break, Mourinho pursued several defensive midfielders, and Real Madrid signed Mascherano for 30 million euros after Liverpool’s negotiations stalled.

• Mendes told Lin Feng that Barcelona might sell Ronaldinho and presented endorsement offers from Adidas and Nike, along with other companies seeking to work with him.
• Lin Feng chose Nike’s three-year, 20-million-dollar contract, and Mendes warned him that too many commercial commitments could harm his football.
• Chelsea signed Anelka and Ivanović as Abramovich spent heavily, while Mourinho bid for Mascherano, Essien, De Rossi, and Vieira to strengthen Real Madrid’s midfield.
• Chelsea and Roma rejected Real Madrid’s offers for Essien and De Rossi, while Inter Milan refused to release Vieira despite his interest in joining Real Madrid.
• Real Madrid offered 30 million euros for Mascherano’s rights, and Corinthians accepted after Liverpool had offered less.
• Real Madrid announced on January 12 that Mascherano had joined on a four-year contract, while Mourinho’s winter transfer business continued.

Mascherano left Liverpool for Real Madrid, impressed in his debut, and helped the team beat Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid then struggled against Villarreal, where Lin Feng’s late free kick brought them level at 2–2.

• Mascherano accepted Real Madrid’s offer, signed a contract, and flew to Madrid to join the club.
• Mascherano pledged his support to Lin Feng, who welcomed him as a valuable defensive midfielder.
• Real Madrid sold Baptista to Sevilla, while Guti stayed and Robben remained despite Mourinho’s wish to move him on.
• Mascherano made an energetic debut as Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid 2–0, with Lin Feng assisting goals for Raul and Van Nistelrooy.
• Real Madrid crashed out of the Copa del Rey against Mallorca after struggling through an injury crisis.
• Villarreal twice took the lead against Real Madrid, but Lin Feng assisted Ramos’s equalizer and then scored a 34-meter S-curve free kick to make it 2–2.

Real Madrid overcame Villarreal 4:2 and extended their lead over Barcelona to fourteen points, while Lin Feng’s record-breaking scoring left Messi feeling trapped in his shadow. Real Madrid then rested their starters for the Champions League and lost to Real Betis, helping the relegation-threatened side escape the drop zone temporarily.

• Ramos crossed for Van Nistelrooy to put Real Madrid ahead 3:2, and Higuain later sealed a 4:2 comeback victory over Villarreal.
• Barcelona dropped points against Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla, while Real Madrid beat Almería and thrashed Valladolid 7:0 to build a fourteen-point lead.
• Messi scored twice against Zaragoza, but Lin Feng’s thirty goals and seventeen assists outpaced Messi’s twenty-two goals and twelve assists.
• Mourinho rested Real Madrid’s starters before their Champions League match against AS Roma, and the reserve side lost 1:2 away to Real Betis.
• Real Betis used the win to move temporarily clear of the relegation zone, though they remained only four points above it.

Real Madrid faced AS Roma in Rome, where Mourinho’s provocation and a counterattacking plan helped Lin Feng and Raul lead the visitors to a 3–1 win. The chapter ended with Real Madrid holding a commanding advantage ahead of the return leg.

• Spalletti vowed that AS Roma would beat Real Madrid, while Mourinho dismissed Roma and all of Serie A as threats, provoking hostile reactions from fans and pundits.
• Mourinho used the hostile atmosphere to fire up Real Madrid, and Lin Feng assisted Raul’s opening goal before scoring himself to put the visitors 2–0 ahead.
• Mancini Jr. crossed for Adriano, who kept the ball alive for Pizarro to score and pull one back for AS Roma.
• Mourinho told Ramos to focus on defending, which helped Real Madrid contain Mancini Jr. and leave Adriano isolated.
• Mourinho brought on Robben, whose repeated solo runs failed to produce a goal, so Lin Feng instead sent Raul through to score his second and make it 3–1.
• AS Roma could not recover, and Real Madrid won away with a two-goal lead and three away goals ahead of the return leg.

Raul hosted a barbecue to welcome Lin Feng and mend tensions among Real Madrid’s players as they discussed the Champions League contenders. Real Madrid beat AS Roma to reach the quarterfinals, while all four Premier League teams also qualified, establishing them as the competition’s strongest contingent.

• Raul invited Lin Feng to a barbecue party, and Lin Feng arrived with a gift at Raul’s villa.
• Raul’s wife welcomed Lin Feng, and he met Raul’s children before joining Casillas, Ramos, and other players in the backyard.
• Ramos apologized for previously excluding Lin Feng, and the players agreed that Real Madrid needed to unite to pursue the Champions League title.
• The players discussed Barcelona’s turmoil and identified Manchester United, Chelsea, and the Milan teams as major threats.
• Real Madrid beat Getafe, Bilbao Athletic, and Espanyol in the league, then defeated AS Roma 2-0 to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals 5-1 on aggregate.
• Barcelona also advanced, while Sevilla, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Lyon were eliminated; all four Premier League teams qualified for the quarterfinals.

The Champions League quarterfinal draw paired Chelsea with Real Madrid and Manchester United with Fenerbahçe, while Arsenal drew Liverpool and Barcelona drew Schalke 04. Real Madrid then stumbled in La Liga as fatigue took hold, and Lin Feng reassured Liu Yifei that her studies were going well before sending her new songs to practice.

• The Champions League draw matched Arsenal with Liverpool, Barcelona with Schalke 04, Real Madrid with Chelsea, and Manchester United with Fenerbahçe.
• Deportivo La Coruña beat Real Madrid 1-0, climbed out of the relegation zone, and pushed Real Betis into third from bottom after Betis also lost.
• Mourinho blamed Real Madrid’s players for their defeat and ordered them to focus on the league title race.
• Real Madrid drew 3-3 with Valencia after Lin Feng scored a stoppage-time equalizer, while Barcelona’s win cut the gap at the top to ten points.
• Liu Yifei told Lin Feng she had turned down acting roles to concentrate on her studies, and Lin Feng sent her songs to practice for a future album.

Mourinho asked Lin Feng to attack more as Real Madrid struggled with fatigue and a shrinking lead over Barcelona. Barcelona then lost to Real Betis, and Real Madrid began an aggressive match against Sevilla, where Sneijder launched a counterattack toward Lin Feng and Robben.

• Mourinho told Lin Feng that Real Madrid needed his goals and asked him to play more proactively.
• Real Betis came back from two goals down to beat Barcelona 3-2 after Edu scored twice and Juanito equalized.
• Mourinho changed Real Madrid's formation against Sevilla, placing Lin Feng behind Raul and Van Nistelrooy in an attacking midfield diamond.
• Lin Feng tested Sevilla's goalkeeper early, while Kanoute answered with a shot that narrowly missed Real Madrid's goal.
• Cannavaro started a counterattack, and after Sevilla marked Mascherano, Sneijder received the ball and sent it toward the frontcourt as Lin Feng and Robben called for a pass.

Lin Feng led Real Madrid to a dominant first half against Sevilla and completed a hat-trick in a 4–1 victory. His record-breaking scoring run left fans hailing him as a terrifying new demon king of La Liga.

• Lin Feng scored in the seventh minute with a one-footed rainbow flick, giving Real Madrid an early lead.
• Kanoute equalized for Sevilla in the 38th minute, but Lin Feng assisted Raul a minute later to restore Real Madrid's advantage.
• Mascherano won the ball and passed to Lin Feng, who sprinted past Sevilla's defenders and goalkeeper to make it 3–1 just before halftime.
• Mourinho told Lin Feng to attack freely and ordered Robben to pass to him instead of taking wasteful shots.
• Robben crossed for Lin Feng in the 66th minute, and Lin Feng volleyed the ball into the net to complete his hat-trick and make it 4–1.
• Lin Feng's five league hat-tricks for Real Madrid set a new single-season La Liga record, and his 35 goals and 18 assists in 26 appearances drew widespread attention.

After Lin Feng’s sensational start to the season, Real Madrid hosted Chelsea in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals amid a bitter public feud between Mourinho and Abramovich. Lin Feng opened the match with a powerful long-range free kick that Petr Cech touched into his own net, giving Real Madrid an early lead.

• Fans and Spanish media praised Lin Feng’s record-breaking performances and celebrated Real Madrid’s decision to sign him.
• Abramovich dismissed Mourinho’s importance to Chelsea, and Mourinho retaliated by criticizing Abramovich’s interest in football.
• Real Madrid and Chelsea began the quarterfinal at the Bernabeu with their star-studded lineups, and Lin Feng drove forward against Chelsea’s midfield.
• Makélélé fouled Lin Feng to stop his run, giving Real Madrid a free kick from about forty meters out.
• Lin Feng struck the free kick with a powerful shot, and Petr Cech’s attempted save deflected the ball into Chelsea’s goal.
• Ballack recognized Lin Feng’s shot as an enhanced version of his own signature technique.

Lin Feng’s early free-kick goal led Mourinho to shift Real Madrid into a counterattacking approach, and the teams fought a punishing midfield battle through the first half. At halftime, Grant planned Chelsea’s second-half wing attacks while Mourinho warned Real Madrid to defend against them, but Real Madrid instead opened the second half with a major offensive.

• Lin Feng scored a free kick in the opening minute, and Mourinho celebrated before switching Real Madrid to counterattacking football.
• Mascherano, Diarra, and Lin Feng pressed Chelsea’s midfield, while Chelsea’s possession failed to produce as many dangerous attacks as Real Madrid’s counters.
• Grant worried that Makélélé was tiring, and Makélélé agreed to come off for Essien in the sixty-fifth minute.
• Grant told Lampard to make more forward runs and instructed Ballack to support Chelsea’s wing attacks while guarding against counters.
• Mourinho warned Real Madrid to help their fullbacks stop Chelsea’s crosses and watch for passes back into midfield.
• After halftime, Real Madrid unexpectedly launched a major offensive against Chelsea.

Lin Feng scored twice as Real Madrid beat Chelsea 2:0 at the Bernabeu, leaving Chelsea needing a major turnaround in the second leg. Mourinho mocked Abramovich after the match, while the other Champions League quarterfinal first legs left Barcelona and Manchester United with advantages and Arsenal facing a difficult return at Anfield.

• Real Madrid changed tactics after halftime, and Lin Feng beat Makélélé before finishing a move involving Raul and Van Nistelrooy with a shot into the top-left corner.
• Chelsea failed to score, and Drogba's late header struck the crossbar as Real Madrid won 2:0.
• Mourinho praised Chelsea's players and staff in an interview but called Abramovich an unqualified owner, enraging the Chelsea owner.
• Abramovich vowed to spend heavily on coaches and star players, while Mourinho considered how far to push Chelsea in the Stamford Bridge second leg.
• Lin Feng was named man of the match and La Liga player of the month after recording seven goals and one assist in six March matches.
• Barcelona beat Schalke 04 1:0, Manchester United beat Fenerbahçe 2:0, and Arsenal drew Liverpool 1:1 in the other Champions League quarterfinal first legs.