Chapter Summaries

Barcelona came from behind to beat Deportivo La Coruña, but its defensive problems drew widespread criticism as El Clásico approached. With the club short on money and struggling to find reinforcements, Su Dong searched for a player and asked Mendes what he thought of him.

• Deportivo La Coruña scored early, but Su Dong equalized and Giuly scored the winner as Barcelona came back to win two-one.
• Mundo Deportivo, AS, and Cruyff praised Barcelona's attack but warned that its fragile defense could undermine its ambitions.
• Laporta, Rosell, and Rijkaard called for defensive reinforcements, especially a holding midfielder who could let Marcos return to center-back.
• Mendes told Su Dong that Barcelona's approaches for Dacourt and Albertini had gone nowhere and that the club could not afford Maniche.
• Su Dong considered Barcelona's financial troubles and searched for a player who had caught his attention, then asked Mendes what he thought of him.

Barcelona's internal conflict erupted after Ten Cate attacked Rosell over his criticism of Rijkaard and his refusal to sign Su Dong, and the club then lost to Real Betis. Real Madrid crushed Albacete before El Clásico, setting up a clash amid Barcelona's troubles and worldwide scrutiny of Su Dong and Ronaldinho.

• Barcelona lost 0–1 to Levante with a reserve lineup, and Rosell criticized Rijkaard's rotation while praising Scolari as a future Barcelona coach.
• Ten Cate publicly accused Rosell of undermining Rijkaard, favoring Scolari, mishandling transfers, and rejecting Su Dong; Barcelona's management intervened to calm the coaches and players.
• Barcelona lost 1–2 to Real Betis, ending its ten-match league winning streak, while Real Madrid beat Albacete 6–1.
• Barcelona and Real Madrid arranged helicopter transport for their Brazilian internationals returning from Ecuador ahead of El Clásico, while Spain coach Aragonés accommodated his players' preparations.
• Media around the world built anticipation for El Clásico and described it as a crucial test of Su Dong and Ronaldinho's chances of winning the major year-end awards.

Su Dong completed his final preparations for El Clásico while Messi questioned the media pressure surrounding the match and learned why its result mattered beyond the league points. The chapter ended with Real Madrid’s manager Raymon claiming the team had fixed its defensive problems, as both sides prepared for the showdown.

• Messi complained that Su Dong had to prove himself against Real Madrid’s stars, and Su Dong told him to ignore the talk and focus on playing.
• Su Dong completed strength, foam-roller, and recovery training, while Nuno Cruz assessed his condition and predicted he would be ready for the match.
• Su Dong explained to Messi that El Clásico reflected each team’s form and unity, not merely its effect on the league standings.
• Barcelona and Real Madrid’s media traded pre-match claims, with Marca emphasizing Real Madrid’s unbeaten record at Camp Nou over the past three seasons.
• Ronaldo praised Su Dong’s scoring and warned that Real Madrid had to find a way to stop him.
• Raymon said Real Madrid were ready and claimed their defense had improved after conceding only once in their last four matches.

Before El Clásico, Ten Cate urged Barcelona to exploit Real Madrid’s aging squad with full-pitch pressing and relentless attacks. Barcelona’s players and fans prepared for the match, which was about to begin at Camp Nou.

• Ten Cate told Barcelona’s players that Real Madrid’s aging stars lacked the speed and fighting spirit to withstand their younger opponents.
• Ten Cate explained that Rijkaard and he had chosen full-pitch pressing and fast attacks to strengthen Barcelona’s defense and overwhelm Real Madrid.
• Ronaldinho and Su Dong welcomed the aggressive plan and looked forward to the match.
• Barcelona fans filled Camp Nou, where a Tifo depicting Su Dong appeared as the stadium prepared for El Clásico.
• The broadcast introduced both teams’ lineups, with Su Dong starting up front for Barcelona and Iniesta selected on the right wing ahead of Giuly.

Barcelona pressed Real Madrid aggressively from the opening whistle, and Su Dong scored with a powerful header in the second minute to give Barcelona an early lead. Barcelona continued to control the pace and restrict Real Madrid, while Puyol intercepted a pass and launched another attack toward Su Dong.

• Barcelona and Real Madrid began the match with relentless pressing and rapid changes of possession.
• Su Dong held off Zidane and Guti, passed the ball wide to Iniesta, then headed Iniesta’s cross past Casillas for a second-minute goal.
• Su Dong celebrated with the Barcelona supporters and thanked Iniesta for the assist.
• Barcelona kept Real Madrid pinned back with high pressing and disrupted their passing, while Su Dong protected the ball under pressure in the seventh minute.
• Puyol intercepted Raul’s attempted switch to Ronaldo in the twelfth minute, carried forward, and sent a long pass toward the already advancing Su Dong.

Su Dong scored twice in the opening twelve minutes as Barcelona’s aggressive pressing overwhelmed Real Madrid, then stunned the Camp Nou with a right-angle feint to score his second. Barcelona celebrated their commanding lead while Van Basten and his assistants marveled at Su Dong’s ability, and Ronaldo watched him from the center circle.

• Van Basten, Van 't Schip, and Rob Witschge observed Barcelona press Real Madrid aggressively after Su Dong opened the scoring.
• Puyol sent a long pass forward, and Su Dong sprinted past Pavón with a sideways hop and sudden acceleration.
• Su Dong muscled past Samuel, shot low past Casillas, and put Barcelona two goals ahead in the twelfth minute.
• Barcelona’s players and supporters celebrated Su Dong’s goal while Pavón, Samuel, and Casillas struggled to understand how he had beaten them.
• Van Basten and Van 't Schip imitated Su Dong’s feint, and Rob Witschge remarked on the exceptional athleticism it required.
• Ronaldo watched Su Dong celebrating and saw a reflection of himself at twenty.

Barcelona took a 3–0 lead over Real Madrid after Su Dong linked up attacks and helped set up Van Bronckhorst’s goal. In the stands, Arrigo Sacchi learned why Real Madrid had failed to sign Su Dong and predicted that the match heralded an era for him and Barcelona; Barcelona kept pressing for more goals.

• Barcelona used a high press to launch attacks, and Belletti’s cross led to Iniesta’s close-range shot, which Casillas saved.
• Su Dong tackled the ball away from Beckham, then linked up with Xavi, Ronaldinho, and Van Bronckhorst to create Barcelona’s third goal.
• Butragueño watched Real Madrid fall three goals behind, while Sacchi praised Su Dong’s all-around play and questioned why Real Madrid had let him join Barcelona.
• Butragueño explained that Valencia chairman Roig preferred Barcelona’s lower offer because of old grudges and that Barcelona had promised Su Dong a core role.
• Sacchi said no European player matched Su Dong and predicted that the World Footballer of the Year and European Golden Ball awards would be his.
• Barcelona continued pressing Real Madrid after taking the 3–0 lead, with Su Dong eager to score again.

Barcelona dominated the first half of El Clásico, and Su Dong scored his third goal to put them 4–0 ahead of Real Madrid. At halftime, Rijkaard urged Barcelona to keep pressing and pursue a historic 5–0 victory, and the team began the second half with even greater intensity.

• Ronaldinho sent a long pass behind Real Madrid’s defense, and Su Dong beat Carlos and Casillas to chip the goalkeeper and score his hat trick in the thirty-ninth minute.
• Su Dong celebrated as his Barcelona teammates rushed to congratulate him, while Ronaldinho, Iniesta, and Messi praised him.
• Rijkaard praised Barcelona’s collective first-half performance and urged the team to maintain its pressure and try to make the score 5–0.
• Barcelona started the second half pressing more aggressively and threatening Real Madrid’s goal.

Su Dong intercepted Real Madrid’s attack and scored his fourth goal of the night, extending Barcelona’s lead to five and turning the El Clásico into a triumph for the hosts. As Barcelona celebrated, Rijkaard reflected on his vindication, and Su Dong left the field to a standing ovation.

• Su Dong intercepted Zidane’s pass and drove the ball from Barcelona’s half into Real Madrid’s penalty area.
• Su Dong evaded Samuel, held off Guti, and shot past Casillas to score his fourth goal and make it 5–0.
• Su Dong celebrated with the Barcelona fans as Puyol and his teammates joined him.
• Rijkaard and Ten Cate shared a moment of relief, and Messi replaced Deco.
• Larsson replaced Su Dong in the seventy-fifth minute, and the crowd and both teams’ benches gave him a standing ovation.

Su Dong’s four goals and an assist led Barcelona to a 5–0 El Clásico victory, earning him praise from Spanish and international media as well as Cruyff and Van Basten. The chapter ended by contrasting the acclaim surrounding Su Dong with the humiliation of China’s national team failing to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.

• Diario AS praised Su Dong’s performance against Real Madrid and dubbed him the King of Camp Nou.
• Cruyff argued that Barcelona should build its attack around Su Dong and praised his work rate and fit with the team’s pressing tactics.
• Diario AS reported that Real Madrid defenders Pavón and Carlos blamed themselves for mistakes, while Butragueño admitted Su Dong had been the greatest difference between the teams.
• Media outlets around the world predicted that Su Dong would win the World Footballer of the Year and European Golden Ball awards.
• Chinese media celebrated Su Dong’s achievement but condemned the national team’s World Cup qualifying failure, including its loss to Kuwait.

Wang Chuqing helped Su Dong secure a German sponsorship deal, and Barcelona continued to win in La Liga as debate over Su Dong’s chances at the year’s major awards intensified. The chapter ended with the award announcements approaching and Pele backing Ronaldinho over Su Dong.

• Wang Chuqing’s classmates questioned her about Su Dong, and she later accepted his request to translate for a German sponsorship deal.
• Su Dong scored Barcelona’s winner against Ajax, then traveled to Munich, where Wang Chuqing and Mendes met him.
• Wang Chuqing’s contract research and revisions helped Su Dong sign a deal worth three million euros a year, and he bought her business clothes in thanks.
• Barcelona beat Getafe and Málaga in La Liga, with Su Dong scoring twice against Málaga, while media and Blatter backed him for the major awards and Pele favored Ronaldinho.
• Barcelona lost to Donetsk Miner with a rotated lineup, then beat Albacete 2–1 as Iniesta and Xavi scored and Su Dong assisted.

Su Dong traveled to Paris after Barcelona’s support and a private-jet booking revealed that he had won the European Golden Ball Award. He learned he had overcome Shevchenko by thirty-eight points despite receiving no first-place votes from Eastern European journalists.

• Barcelona’s leaders, players, and media allies publicly backed Su Dong as he competed with Shevchenko for the award.
• Mundo Deportivo reported that Barcelona had booked a private jet to Paris, and Su Dong arrived at Barcelona Airport with club officials on December 13.
• Su Dong and the Barcelona delegation flew to Paris, where France Football Magazine prepared to announce the winner and feature him on its cover.
• Aguilar told Su Dong that Shevchenko had dominated the Eastern European ballots, leaving Su Dong fifty points behind in that bloc.
• Aguilar revealed that Su Dong had won by thirty-eight points after leading ballots across most of the major footballing countries, with Shevchenko and Deco finishing second and third.

Su Dong received the Ballon d'Or and celebrated with fans, former mentors, and Barcelona president Laporta. Laporta then told him that Rijkaard’s future depended on resolving his conflict with Rosell and promised to make Su Dong Barcelona’s undisputed number one if the team delivered strong results.

• Erno presented Su Dong with the Ballon d'Or, and Su Dong thanked his former clubs, teammates, and coaches while joking about his frequent transfers.
• Laporta praised Su Dong’s signing and revealed that he had rejected an offer worth twice the transfer fee to take Su Dong away from Barcelona.
• Luis Suárez praised Su Dong’s work ethic and predicted he would dominate European football, while Laporta declared that he would not let Su Dong leave.
• Su Dong answered questions at an extended press conference, then signed autographs and posed for photographs for the fans who had gathered to celebrate him.
• Laporta told Su Dong that Rijkaard wanted to renew but was reluctant to continue working with Rosell, and that the club would weigh the coach’s future against the team’s results.
• Laporta promised to begin renewing Su Dong’s contract after the season and establish him as Barcelona’s undisputed number one if the team succeeded; Su Dong vowed to pursue more titles.

France Football editor Gérard Ernault defended Su Dong’s Ballon d'Or victory and praised him as the award’s youngest winner, while media around the world celebrated his achievement. The chapter ended with attention turning to whether Su Dong would also win World Footballer of the Year at the Zurich ceremony.

• Gérard Ernault reviewed the Ballon d'Or selection and argued that Su Dong had been the strongest candidate because of his individual records and Valencia’s trophies.
• Ernault hailed Su Dong as the first Asian and Chinese Ballon d'Or winner and said he could become the greatest winner in the award’s history.
• Catalan and Spanish media celebrated Su Dong’s victory, while Cruyff urged him to stay focused and called for Barcelona to concentrate its attack around him.
• Media across Asia, especially in China, celebrated Su Dong’s award, and the National Television Station praised his achievement and determination.
• Su Dong’s victory spread worldwide, and fans and media wondered whether he would also win World Footballer of the Year.

Su Dong celebrated winning the Ballon d'Or at Camp Nou before Barcelona beat Valencia 2–1 in a tense match. Afterward, he reflected on how success and changing circumstances were widening the distance between him and his former Valencia friends, while his old Sporting Lisbon friendships remained close.

• Barcelona held a Ballon d'Or ceremony before the match, and Su Dong lifted the trophy amid cheers from the Camp Nou crowd.
• Su Dong set up Iniesta to score Barcelona's opening goal in the twelfth minute.
• Fiore equalized for Valencia after Oleguer and Valdes made defensive mistakes, but Su Dong restored Barcelona's lead with a first-time finish from Iniesta's pass.
• Valdes was sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area, but Barcelona defended with ten men and held on for a 2–1 win.
• After the match, Su Dong spoke with former Valencia teammates about Ranieri, Barcelona's goalkeeping problems, and his upcoming trip to Zurich.
• Su Dong watched his former teammates leave and reflected that his friendships with them were becoming more distant, while his Sporting Lisbon friends remained close.

Su Dong arrived in Zurich as the favorite for the World Footballer of the Year award, but growing anticipation left him unable to relax. After the ceremony began and other awards were announced, he stood onstage with Ronaldinho and Henry as the winner’s name was about to be revealed.

• Su Dong struggled to sleep, swam to clear his mind, and received supportive calls from his parents before the ceremony.
• At a press conference, Su Dong praised Ronaldinho and Henry while saying all three candidates deserved to win.
• Su Dong greeted Chinese fans on the red carpet and joked in Chinese after one fan shouted an outrageous declaration of love.
• Brazil won several awards, while Su Dong reacted wryly when the esports winner said he liked using Su Dong in the game but avoided playing as him for the national team.
• Su Dong, Ronaldinho, and Henry stood onstage as Weah prepared to reveal the World Footballer of the Year winner.

Su Dong won the World Footballer of the Year award and used his acceptance speech to honor Cristiano Ronaldo, his best friend who helped him develop as a player. After the ceremony, Ronaldo and Messi vowed to catch up to him, while Wang Chuqing realized she had feelings for him.

• Su Dong beat Ronaldinho and Henry to win World Footballer of the Year, then accepted the trophy and thanked his family, teammates, and friends.
• Su Dong recalled how Cristiano Ronaldo had found and trained him in Lisbon, and said he hoped Ronnie would soon stand on the award podium beside him.
• Cristiano Ronaldo watched from Manchester, felt proud and moved, and vowed to reach the podium and stand beside Su Dong.
• Messi watched from Barcelona and resolved to catch up to Su Dong and stand alongside him.
• Wang Chuqing watched Su Dong's victory from Munich and realized her feelings for him had grown stronger.
• After enduring a long round of interviews, Su Dong read messages from Ronaldo, Messi, and Wang Chuqing, replying to the first two and hesitating over Wang Chuqing's compliment.

After Su Dong won the Ballon d'Or and World Footballer of the Year at age twenty, media around the world celebrated his record-breaking achievement and speculated about his potential to surpass Pele and Maradona. Ronaldo advised him to avoid injuries and plan his career carefully, while Chinese media hailed his victory as a historic honor for China and Asia.

• Kicker Magazine declared Su Dong's Double Award Winner title the start of a new era led by players born in the 1980s.
• Mundo Deportivo cited Su Dong's youth, achievements, global influence, and Barcelona's support as reasons he could surpass Pele and Maradona.
• Luis Suárez praised Su Dong's discipline and hunger, predicting that he would reach his peak around age twenty-four or twenty-five if injuries did not interfere.
• Ronaldo congratulated Su Dong and advised him to stay in La Liga for now, avoid injuries, and challenge himself through careful career planning.
• Chinese media celebrated Su Dong as the first Asian and Chinese World Footballer of the Year and urged domestic football to learn from his success.
• A week after winning the Ballon d'Or, Su Dong received worldwide praise as the youngest Double Award Winner in history.

After Barcelona beat Levante and learned they would face Bayern Munich in the Champions League Round of 16, Su Dong explained why he had recommended Marcos Senna as a low-cost defensive midfield signing. His explanation reassured Puyol that he was not siding with Barcelona’s Brazilian faction, leaving the dressing room’s balance intact.

• Su Dong assisted Messi’s winning goal as Barcelona defeated Levante 2–1 and strengthened their lead in La Liga.
• Barcelona drew Bayern Munich in the Champions League Round of 16, while Su Dong regretted missing the chance to face Cristiano Ronaldo.
• At Barcelona’s Christmas dinner, Laporta praised the team’s first-half-season performance and promised stronger rewards after the Winter Break.
• Iniesta asked Su Dong why his agent had recommended Marcos Senna, and Su Dong explained that Barcelona needed an affordable defensive midfielder who fit the team.
• After Iniesta relayed Su Dong’s explanation, Puyol was relieved that Su Dong intended to stay neutral in the club’s internal power struggles.

Marcos Senna looked back on a career marked by injuries, suspension, and lost opportunities as he wondered whether he had any future at Villarreal. Jorge Mendes then told him that Barcelona wanted him, after Su Dong recommended him as a defensive midfielder.

• Marcos Senna recalled his early career, his move to Villarreal, and the cruciate ligament injury that sidelined him for a year and a half.
• Marcos Senna described how a two-month suspension left him competing for a place in a crowded Villarreal midfield.
• Marcos Senna worried that he would lose his place and privately cursed his bad luck.
• Jorge Mendes called Marcos Senna and offered to represent him, saying Barcelona had taken an interest in him.
• Jorge Mendes explained that Barcelona wanted Senna as part of negotiations with Villarreal over Riquelme, after Su Dong recommended him.
• Marcos Senna asked why Su Dong had recommended him, and Mendes said Su Dong considered him capable but overlooked.