The next day, media outlets around the world rushed to report on the thirty-man shortlist for the European Golden Ball Award. The focus was on Yang Yang appearing in the final position. Major media outlets competed to cover the news, while journalists filled their columns with all kinds of analyses, opinions, and arguments.
When Yang Yang returned to the locker room from the gym, the Real Madrid players were already eagerly discussing the matter.
"Yang, did you know? I was all prepared to cry with you today, but who would've thought..."
Marcelo's words, combined with his mischievous expression, sent everyone in the locker room into uproarious laughter.
Everyone knew he hadn't even made the top thirty.
"To be honest, I originally thought you hadn't made it either."
"Yeah. When I saw Ibrahimovic's tweet, saying that if you weren't in the final batch of names, he would boycott France Football Magazine and the European Golden Ball Award from then on, I was scared out of my wits."
"It was really nerve-racking. That stunt scared me so badly I barely slept."
"I think France Football Magazine was just messing with us, deliberately using the topic to generate hype."
"I thought so too. We got played for nothing."
"But at least you made the shortlist in the end, right?"
"That's pretty normal too. Doesn't FIFA always play the same game? Narrowing the candidate pool from fifty to thirty as the award ceremony approaches, drawing the attention and discussion of the media and fans. France Football Magazine just handled the marketing campaign rather well this time."
"Rather well? If I find out who came up with it, I'm going to beat him up!"
Hearing that, Yang Yang quickly smiled and "held back" Ramos. "Absolutely not. I'm planning to poach him and have him work