Recaps

Tang Ye led Manchester United to the EFL Cup and Premier League titles while China qualified for the World Cup, as he tried to help Cristiano Ronaldo regain his place. After United advanced past Villarreal, their Champions League semifinal against Bayern began with Bayern taking the lead.

• Tang Ye scored directly from a corner as China beat Japan 2–0 to finish atop its qualifying group, then returned to Manchester United and scored in a Champions League win over Inter Milan.
• Tang Ye helped Manchester United defeat Liverpool 3–1 in the EFL Cup final, while China was drawn into a World Cup group with Argentina and Germany.
• Manchester United beat Villarreal to advance to the Champions League semifinals, with Tang Ye scoring and assisting, and Ronaldo also finding the net.
• Tang Ye urged Erik ten Hag to give Ronaldo more playing time, and Ronaldo started against Villarreal before later telling Jorge Mendes he would wait to speak publicly about his grievances.
• Tang Ye helped Manchester United beat Arsenal 3–2, then scored against Chelsea in a 3–3 draw that clinched the Premier League title with three rounds remaining.
• Ronaldo apologized to Tang Ye, and Tang Ye assisted Ronaldo’s goal in a 2–0 win over Brentford as United reached 102 points after 36 league matches.
• After Al Nassr offered Ronaldo a lucrative deal, Manchester United traveled to Munich for the Champions League semifinal second leg against Bayern.
• Bayern took an early lead when David de Gea saved Lewandowski’s penalty but Serge Gnabry scored in the 28th minute.

Tang Ye led Manchester United to a historic unbeaten league season and a Champions League title, then navigated Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure and won his fourth Ballon d’Or. He joined China for the World Cup, where the team began preparing for a daunting group with a friendly against the Netherlands.

• Gnabry gave Bayern the lead, but Tang Ye helped Manchester United come back and win 4–1, sending them to the Champions League final.
• Tang Ye scored and assisted through Manchester United’s final league matches as the club completed an unbeaten season on 106 points and celebrated the Premier League title.
• Tang Ye scored and assisted in the Champions League final as Manchester United defeated Real Madrid 3–2, then lifted the trophy and received the final’s MVP award.
• Cristiano Ronaldo told Tang Ye he would leave Manchester United, then criticized Erik ten Hag publicly before joining Al Nassr.
• Tang Ye completed his Nine Lords Unite task, welcomed his newborn son Tang Rui, and tested King Ding’s ability to boost his teammates.
• Manchester United signed Harry Kane and Antony, while Tang Ye helped the club win matches and learned he would receive the Ballon d’Or.
• Tang Ye won his fourth Ballon d’Or, along with the Socrates Award, as Cristiano Ronaldo clarified that his conflict at Manchester United had been with Erik, not Tang Ye.
• Tang Ye joined China in Doha ahead of the World Cup and led the team into a friendly against the Netherlands, where Berghuis scored after Tang Ye had helped create chances for Wu Lei.

Tang Ye led China from an upset victory over Argentina through group-stage qualification and into a Round of 16 clash with Spain. China took an early lead against Spain, but the first half ended level at 1–1.

• Tang Ye helped China rally against the Netherlands, but the team lost 3–1, and Mati told Escribá that Tang Ye feared a defeat to Argentina could shake his confidence and China’s momentum.
• Tang Ye scored twice against Argentina, including a long-range lob, and set up Wu Lei’s late winner as China earned its first World Cup victory.
• Tang Ye scored and assisted in China’s 3–0 win over Wales, lifting China to six points and the top of Group C.
• Against Germany, Tang Ye scored a volley and a free kick as China drew 2–2, finished first in the group, and qualified for the knockout stage.
• Tang Ye hoped China would face Japan, but Japan’s late equalizer against Spain left China paired with Spain in the Round of 16.
• Tang Ye and Rodri became the focus of the buildup to China’s match against Spain, while Escribá prepared an unconventional tactic and Jiang Guangtai returned.
• Tang Ye scored a Rabona to put China ahead against Spain, but Dani Olmo equalized, and the first half ended 1–1 after Spain’s goalkeeper saved Tang Ye’s stoppage-time shot.

Tang Ye led China through historic knockout victories over Spain and the Netherlands, then helped the team take third place after losses to France and wins over Portugal. China’s World Cup success brought Tang Ye major awards and renewed debate over how to strengthen Chinese football, while he kept his focus on future titles with the national team.

• Tang Ye helped China equalize against Spain and set up Fernando’s extra-time winner, securing China’s first World Cup quarterfinal berth.
• Tang Ye scored twice against the Netherlands, and China won the quarterfinal shootout after Wang Dalei saved Berghuis’s penalty.
• France beat China 4–1 in the semifinal, and Tang Ye argued with Escribá before they reconciled and agreed to pursue a medal against Portugal.
• Tang Ye studied Portugal’s attack and scored in the third-place match, then helped set up Wu Lei’s late winner in China’s 4–3 victory.
• China received bronze medals, and FIFA named Tang Ye the World Cup Golden Ball winner and Golden Boot winner with 11 goals.
• Tang Ye proposed increased investment in Chinese players, competitions, and youth development, while PPBond announced major national-team sponsorship.
• Tang Ye explored buying Guangzhou Evergrande but backed away after learning the cost, then said he remained focused on winning the World Cup with China.
• Boer proposed requiring companies that sponsored Tang Ye to contribute additional funding to the national team and Chinese football.