Unexpected Fame, Even Messi Was Shocked!

After De Bruyne left the pitch, Werder Bremen's midfield and forward organization quality dropped.

Combined with the players' declining stamina, the score didn't change again until the final whistle.

Cottbus tried hard to score a goal to save face, but facing their opponents' unsportsmanlike five-man defensive formation, their attacks crashed like waves against a wall, unable to break through.

So they had to accept the result of a 0:3 away loss to Werder Bremen.

After the match, Schaaf led the players on a lap of honor to thank the fans who came to support them.

Although attendance wasn't high, every fan who showed up to watch the game deserved gratitude.

Their season ticket revenue from home games accounted for about thirty percent of Werder Bremen's total income, making them the club's true bread and butter.

Since it was a friendly, there was no post-match press conference, and few reporters were present—only those from a few local Bremen media outlets.

Because of his outstanding performance, a reporter from the Bremen Citizen News found Lin Quan outside the stadium tunnel, hoping to interview him.

However, the team's press officer declined the interview on the grounds that Lin Quan was still a minor.

"Lin, you'll need to undergo relevant training when you get back. Dealing with the media is something professional players can't avoid," the team manager Allofs said, patting Lin Quan on the shoulder outside the locker room hallway.

He had watched the entire match from the box and was very satisfied with Lin Quan's performance, so he began to value him even more.

"Thanks for the reminder, manager. I'll take the training course!"

Compared to Lin Quan, the adult De Bruyne couldn't use the minor excuse to dodge interviews.

Reluctantly, he accepted interviews from the Bremen Citizen News and the Bremen Daily.

"Kevin, congratulations on winning the match. How do you feel about your performance? If you had to score yourself, what would you give?"

Hearing the reporter's question, De Bruyne thought seriously for a moment, then replied:

"I didn't play very well in this match. If I had to score it, I think I'd only give myself 75 points."

"I didn't expect you to be so hard on yourself. The fans think you were the best player on the pitch!" the reporter said, surprised by De Bruyne's answer.

In their view, De Bruyne had shown an extremely high level in both attack and defense during this match.

His presence filled the offensive gap left by Werder Bremen after losing Özil.

Moreover, his active tracking back relieved captain Fritz's defensive pressure, making the team's defense more solid.

Such a performance deserved at least 85 points or more.

"No, no, no. I wasn't the best performer!"

"Then who do you think was the best?"

De Bruyne answered without hesitation:

"I think my teammate Lin Quan performed better than me. He scored an incredible goal and created multiple threats. His role in the attack was unparalleled!"

The reporter got the answer he wanted and went off satisfied to interview Werder Bremen's captain and other players.

Their answers were surprisingly consistent—they all believed the match's MVP should be Lin Quan.

"Without a doubt, Lin is a player with limitless potential. Remember, he's only sixteen years old, with huge room to grow!

I think if he keeps putting on performances like this, maybe in a few years, people will start comparing him to superstars like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo!" said captain Fritz, who went even further, suggesting Lin Quan could threaten the duo's dominance in football.

But this claim didn't gain much traction yet, since Lin Quan had only played one friendly and hadn't proven himself in the Top Five Leagues.

However, as Werder Bremen supporters, the Bremen City News and Bremen Daily both had high hopes for Lin Quan's future.

They not only faithfully reported the team's praise for Lin Quan but also invited Werder Bremen's legendary captain Marko Bode to comment on him.

"Yes, I've watched this young man's game. He's truly impressive.

Fritz says he'll one day rival Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. I can't be sure he'll reach that level—there are too many uncertainties in a young player's career.

But if he stays healthy, avoids injuries, and keeps improving his dribbling and breakthroughs, then at least as a winger, he'll be a historic presence!"

Ordinary Werder Bremen players' praise might not carry much weight.

But when a club legend gave Lin Quan such high marks, people could no longer ignore him.

Fans who hadn't gone to the match started asking around for information about Lin Quan.

Others went online to watch game replays.

They didn't know what they were missing until they saw it—and were stunned.

How could anyone have such sharp breakthroughs?

They couldn't wait to share with friends and family, so they clipped the match's highlights, especially Lin Quan's dribbling past defenders, and sent them to their contacts.

It started as Werder Bremen fans sharing among themselves, but unexpectedly, more and more people began sharing these videos.

Almost everyone who saw them couldn't help but pass them on. Word spread, and within just a few days, they went viral online.

Spain, Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia.

Inside Barca's training base, players who had just finished a day of training were heading to the locker room in twos and threes, chatting and laughing.

Iniesta, Xavi, and Busquets, who had just finished the European Championship and returned to the team two weeks later than the others, lagged behind.

The three seemed to be looking at something, discussing it as they walked.

"It looks just like Messi!"

Busquets, known as Professor Bu, frowned and analyzed seriously:

"Yeah, it really does. The way he starts that step, the way he cuts the ball, and his dribbling style—all of it looks like him!"

Iniesta and Xavi exchanged a glance. Even Professor Bu said so, so it must be true. No wonder that short video had such a title.

"What are you guys talking about?"

At that moment, Messi turned back curiously from ahead. Seeing the three gathered together discussing something, he asked out of curiosity.

"Leo, come take a look at this!"

Iniesta, who was closest to Messi, waved him over and handed him the tablet they were holding.

"What is it?"

Messi didn't know what they were up to. Was it another funny video?

Some players on the team liked to watch stress-relieving comedy videos before big games to relax, but the new season hadn't even started yet—there were no matches to play!

"Just watch and you'll see!"

Messi looked down. On the tablet was a short video with a flashy title:

The Player Who Looks Most Like Messi Ever!

Messi shrugged. These days, there were too many so-called "Messis" using his name to grab attention—he was almost immune to it.

Still, he clicked on the video, curious to see how this player, claimed to be the most like him ever, actually resembled him.

When the video played, it showed a match between two teams. A young player in a green jersey broke through from the wing, dribbled past six defenders, and scored even as he fell to the ground.

This...

Messi was stunned.

How could it be this similar?

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