Chapter Summaries

After China’s win over Germany, Tang Ye trained with the team and learned that a yellow card against Senegal would rule him out of the Sweden match. Meanwhile, footage of his locker-room rant became the viral song “Tom’s Chant,” while Yiwu merchants prepared Tang Ye Bible merchandise.

• Tang Ye greeted Russian fans who called him Stalin and joked with Zhang Yuning about being mistaken for Sterling.
• Tang Ye trained with Wu Lei, advised him on shooting, and warned him that Senegal would be a difficult opponent.
• Massimo Maddaloni explained that a second yellow card would suspend Tang Ye for the Sweden match, prompting Tang Ye to worry about Senegal’s physical play.
• Fans turned Tang Ye’s locker-room rant after the Germany match into the viral song “Tang Ye Bible,” also known as “Tom’s Chant,” and Tang Ye said he would not hold the creators responsible.
• Tang Ye and Wu Lei discussed Senegal’s players over a meal, while Tang Ye admitted he mainly knew Sadio Mané and thought Senegal’s squad had high stats.
• A Yiwu shop owner told a reporter that the shop had exported Pig Hero costumes and was preparing multilingual Tang Ye Bible books for sale.

China traveled to Rostov for their second Group F match against Senegal, while Tang Ye faced heat, fan attention, and growing pressure before kickoff. China began cautiously, and after Senegal controlled possession, Tang Ye sensed danger as a pass intended for him was intercepted.

• China arrived in hot Rostov, where Tang Ye worried about playing in the heat against Senegal.
• Zhang Lu warned that Senegal’s speed, strength, wing attacks, and set pieces would make them difficult for China to contain.
• Erik ten Hag praised Tang Ye’s potential and criticized his coaching and playing time, but data on Tang Ye’s long seasons made the criticism rebound on ten Hag.
• Russian fans welcomed China outside the stadium, and Tang Ye bought and secretly disposed of a politically sensitive photograph he had accidentally signed.
• China faced Senegal in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and Tang Ye nearly scored after combining with Zhang Yuning before Senegal’s defense dispossessed him.
• Senegal controlled 70 percent of possession as China defended; when Feng Xiaoting’s forward pass was intercepted, Tang Ye sensed trouble.

China fell 0–2 behind Senegal in the first half as Tang Ye struggled against close marking and was fouled hard, while Lippi prepared to change the formation at halftime to give him more passing options. Tang Ye returned to the pitch after treatment, and the chapter ended with him readying himself for a second half built around increased possession.

• Niang scored after Mané's through ball to put Senegal ahead, and Tang Ye urged his teammates to move the ball more quickly under Senegal's press.
• Tang Ye set up attacks with a back-to-goal pass and later missed a near-post shot by inches as China struggled to find openings.
• Zhang Linpeng received a yellow card for a tactical foul, and Koulibaly headed in Senegal's second goal from the resulting set piece.
• Sal fouled Tang Ye from behind, and Tang Ye received treatment before returning to play; Massimo Maddaloni was booked while protesting the officiating at halftime.
• Lippi planned to replace Zhang Yuning with Hao Junmin and switch China to a 4-2-2-2 formation to add an attacking midfielder and give Tang Ye more support.

China cut Senegal’s lead to 2–1 through Yu Hanchao, but Niang restored the two-goal margin. Tang Ye pushed into a false-striker role and earned China a penalty after dribbling past three defenders.

• Lippi brought on Hao Junmin for Zhang Yuning, and Tang Ye assisted Yu Hanchao’s goal with a Rabona in the 52nd minute.
• Senegal tightened their marking on Tang Ye and Hao Junmin, while China created chances that Ndiaye and Wagué stopped.
• In the 71st minute, Niang scored from a rebound after Zeng Cheng saved Mané’s shot, making it 3–1.
• Lippi instructed Tang Ye to move forward as a false striker, and Senegal’s defenders repeatedly fouled and marked him.
• Tang Ye accelerated his play after Senegal made defensive substitutions, dribbled past three players, and won China a penalty.

Tang Ye scored a penalty and earned Player of the Match, but China lost 2–4 to Senegal, leaving their World Cup qualification hopes dependent on the final match against Sweden and Germany’s result. As China prepared in Kazan, Tang Ye admitted he was not confident but said he desperately wanted to reach the knockout stage.

• Tang Ye converted a penalty to bring China closer, but Sal scored for Senegal in the 87th minute and Senegal won 4–2.
• Tang Ye crouched on the pitch after the loss, and Wu Lei comforted him as Chinese fans praised him near the tunnel.
• Tang Ye accepted the MVP trophy and told reporters he felt guilty that he had not done enough for his coach and teammates.
• China’s standings left them needing a draw or win against Sweden depending on Germany’s simultaneous result against Senegal.
• Tang Ye arrived in Kazan with wounds still healing, then met his former Villarreal teammate Cheryshev and admitted he lacked confidence against Sweden but wanted to reach the knockout stage.

Tang Ye and China prepared for their decisive World Cup match against Sweden, with Lippi and Maddaloni planning to let Tang Ye use his individual ability when openings appeared. China needed at least a draw to advance, where Brazil would await them as the likely knockout opponent.

• FIFA Online 4 raised Tang Ye’s overall rating to 92 and his passing rating to 97, drawing media criticism over the assessment.
• Maddaloni told Tang Ye to combine with teammates as usual but break away and attack alone when a suitable opportunity arose.
• China’s official account said Tang Ye was fit to play Sweden, while the group standings showed China level with Germany on three points and two goals behind.
• Tang Zhengxiong said Tang Ye’s injuries were superficial, and Tang Ye grew nervous as he considered the consequences of losing to Sweden.
• Lippi promised China would give Tang Ye its greatest support at the pre-match press conference.
• Brazil finished first in Group E, meaning China would face Brazil if they advanced from Group F in second place.

China faced Sweden in a must-win final group-stage match, with fans praying for Tang Ye and the team before kickoff. Sweden began aggressively, but China created chances of their own as the match remained scoreless.

• Chinese fans packed Lingyin Temple to pray for the national team, and a monk gave one visitor a talisman praising Tang Ye.
• Tang Ye and his teammates prepared for the match, and Lippi urged them to fight because they had no way back.
• China and Sweden announced their lineups, with Hao Junmin replacing Zheng Zhi in China's starting eleven.
• Sweden launched an early attack, but Forsberg's long-range shot went wide after Toivonen laid the ball back to him.
• Tang Ye combined with Wu Lei and Hao Junmin to earn a free kick, and Olsen tipped Feng Xiaoting's header over the goal.

China took an early lead against Sweden through Wu Lei, but Sweden turned the score around to lead 2:1 at halftime. With Senegal ahead of Germany, Lippi urged China to keep attacking in the second half, and Tang Ye agreed to lead the effort.

• Tang Ye appealed for a VAR review, and Sweden's apparent goal was disallowed for offside.
• Tang Ye orchestrated a counterattack and threaded a precise pass to Wu Lei, who scored to give China a 1:0 lead.
• Zhang Linpeng conceded a penalty that Granqvist converted, and Sweden later scored again from a set piece to lead 2:1 at halftime.
• Senegal went ahead of Germany, giving China a chance to advance if they could improve their result against Sweden.
• Lippi told the team to exploit Sweden's anxious play by attacking, and Tang Ye agreed to try the plan.
• Feng Xiaoting and Tang Ye reassured Zhang Linpeng before the players returned to the pitch for the second half.

Tang Ye helped China come back from 1–2 down to equalize against Sweden, putting China in a qualifying position while Germany trailed Senegal. China’s hopes were left in danger when Feng Xiaoting conceded a penalty in the 76th minute.

• Tang Ye set up Zhang Yuning for a goal that VAR disallowed for offside, then assisted Zhang Yuning again to make it 2–2.
• After China equalized, Granqvist and Ekdal argued over Ekdal’s inability to mark Tang Ye, while the standings showed China provisionally advancing and Sweden facing elimination.
• Tang Ye was fouled during a clash between the teams, and China replaced Wang Shenchao with Gao Zhunyi while protecting the draw.
• Tang Ye sent a free kick over the bar as China continued to defend its qualifying position.
• Feng Xiaoting brought down Toivonen in the penalty area, and the referee awarded Sweden a penalty.
• Toni Kroos scored directly from a corner to bring Germany level with Senegal at 1–1.

Tang Ye scored a dramatic Rabona winner as China beat Sweden 3:2, while Senegal defeated Germany 2:1. China advanced to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time, and Dongqiudi crashed amid the celebrations.

• Zeng Cheng saved Granqvist's penalty, and Tang Ye cleared the rebound to preserve the 2-2 score.
• Tang Ye scored twice, including a Rabona strike off the post's rebound, to put China ahead 3-2.
• Wu Lei told his teammates that Germany were losing 2-1 to Senegal, leaving China on course to advance.
• China held on to beat Sweden 3-2 as Senegal defeated Germany 2-1, sending China into the knockout stage for the first time.
• Tang Ye celebrated with his teammates and fans, gave away his kit, and joined the jubilant post-match celebrations.
• Fans flooded Dongqiudi to celebrate China's historic qualification, and the app crashed.

Tang Ye helped China defeat Sweden 3–2, sending the team into the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. After the celebrations, China learned it would face Brazil, while Tang Ye was named Group F’s best player and became the subject of viral analysis videos.

• Tang Ye celebrated with his teammates and the fans after China beat Sweden, while his father joined the pitchside celebrations.
• China finished second in Group F with six points, and Lippi and Tang Ye discussed the team’s achievement at a press conference.
• Chinese supporters celebrated outside the stadium as Swedish and German fans reacted angrily to their teams’ elimination.
• FIFA set China’s Round of 16 match against Brazil for July 2 at Samara Arena, and the Russia World Cup Committee named Tang Ye Group F’s best player.
• Chinese fans posted detailed analyses of Tang Ye’s play, and a viral Baidu search for “China’s CPU” returned Tang Ye’s profile.

After China reached the World Cup knockout stage, Tang Ye received a special system reward and learned Adidas was offering €30 million to sign him and associate his signature celebration with its brand. As the Round of 16 approached, China prepared to face Brazil while Tang Ye’s commercial value surged.

• Tang Ye joked with his teammates about China qualifying for another World Cup in four years, then opened a Rule-Ignoring Miracle Chest and chose Son Heung-min’s Crescent Scimitar Free-Kick Template, raising his set-piece rating and overall rating to 85.
• Boer told Tang Ye that Adidas offered €30 million per year for his endorsement and wanted him to link his three-stripe knee-slide celebration to the brand.
• Boer argued that Adidas should pay €50 million to buy out the celebration, and Tang Ye left the negotiation to his agent.
• Boer explained that Tang Ye’s World Cup progress had triggered extra payments from sponsors and that his image was appearing in major advertisements across China.
• The World Cup knockout stage schedule confirmed that China would face Brazil on July 2, while Tang Ye ranked among the five leading candidates for the group-stage best-player award.

Tang Ye and the China team watched France defeat Argentina before preparing for their difficult World Cup round-of-sixteen match against Brazil. Lippi planned to use defensive counterattacks, while Brazil’s promotional poster singled out Tang Ye as China’s only threat.

• FIFA named Tang Ye and Zeng Cheng among the group-stage Best XI selections, and Tang Ye’s fans checked whether Football Elements had resumed posting.
• Tang Ye watched France beat Argentina 4-3, praised Pavard’s spectacular equalizer, and saw Mbappé strengthen his claim to the Best Young Player award.
• A player comparison highlighted Brazil’s overwhelming advantage in squad quality over China.
• Lippi told China to defend at first, then counterattack down Wu Lei’s flank and exploit specific weaknesses in Brazil’s lineup.
• Tang Ye encouraged his teammates to keep fighting, while China and Brazil released promotional posters that portrayed Tang Ye as China’s lone threat.

China prepared to face Brazil in the World Cup Round of 16, with Tang Ye confident that his team could score despite the odds. Marcelo was unexpectedly benched, disrupting China’s planned counterattacks, and the match began with both teams taking the field.

• Lippi and Maddaloni criticized Wu Lei’s first touch during counterattack practice, while Tang Ye and his teammates splashed through puddles and accidentally soaked Lippi.
• Lippi asked Tang Ye not to criticize teammates to reporters after the match, but Tang Ye said he believed China could score against Brazil.
• Tang Ye discussed his three-stripe celebration in a pre-match interview and said it represented Adidas, prompting a flood of online reactions.
• China’s players learned Marcelo was on Brazil’s bench, and Maddaloni urged them to follow their tactics and give their best despite expecting a difficult match.
• Tang Ye greeted Neymar and Casemiro in the tunnel before the teams walked onto the pitch, and the World Cup knockout match began.

China struggled against Brazil in the World Cup knockout match, falling behind 2–0 at halftime after Tang Ye’s quick-free-kick counterattack was disallowed for offside. Brazil scored again early in the second half, leaving Tang Ye and his teammates searching for a way to respond.

• William scored in the 18th minute after Brazil’s attack rebounded to him, giving Brazil a 1–0 lead.
• Tang Ye set up a counterattack for Zhang Yuning and blocked two shots, but Coutinho scored with a long-range strike to make it 2–0.
• Tang Ye took a quick free kick that led to Wu Lei scoring, but VAR ruled Yu Hanchao offside and the referee booked Tang Ye for peeking at the monitor.
• Tang Ye created another chance for Wu Lei before halftime, but China failed to score and went into the break trailing 2–0.
• Tang Ye admitted to Maddaloni that he had no clear plan, while Lippi concluded Tite had anticipated China’s intended tactics.
• Neymar scored in the 54th minute, putting Brazil ahead 3–0 as Tang Ye and his teammates tried to steady themselves.

Tang Ye helped China score twice against Brazil, but China lost 2:5 and was eliminated in the Round of 16. After Neymar and his teammates comforted him, Tang Ye accepted responsibility for the defeat and looked ahead to the next season with Manchester United.

• Tang Ye dribbled past Brazil’s midfield and assisted Zhang Yuning’s goal, making the score 1:3.
• Brazil substituted Casemiro, then Neymar scored to extend the lead to 4:1.
• Tang Ye’s long free kick set up Feng Xiaoting’s header, but Brazil scored again in stoppage time to win 5:2.
• Neymar, Casemiro, and William visited China’s locker room, where Tang Ye said he was calm and thanked them for their support.
• Tang Ye told reporters that China’s elimination was a shared responsibility, then said he would rest before preparing for Manchester United’s new season.

After China’s World Cup campaign ended, Tang Ye returned home to a huge welcome and received an international-class athlete certificate. His Miracle Chest then upgraded his physical-duel talent to Unparalleled, leaving him better equipped for Manchester United’s coming season.

• Tang Ye refused invitations to stay in Russia and left with the eliminated China national football team, while Wu Lei noticed his reluctance to depart.
• Thousands of fans welcomed the team at Beijing Capital International Airport, where Tang Ye signed autographs and took a group photo with them.
• Manchester United congratulated Tang Ye on his World Cup performance as fans looked ahead to the new season and the club’s transfer plans.
• At the General Administration of Sport of China, Zhou Ye found Tang Ye’s certificate, met him, and told him she practiced Latin dance.
• Tang Ye opened a Miracle Chest and received a choice between Martial’s gloves, a Haaland penalty template, and the Forced Growth item.
• After discovering the item could not enhance his maximum-level Passing or the system’s unrecognized Transcendent Vision, Tang Ye used it to raise his Physical Duels talent from Center of Attention to Unparalleled.

After the World Cup, Tang Ye received a huge season settlement and spent Counterattack Points improving his stamina and physical-duel training. As transfer rumors swirled around him, France defeated Croatia to win the World Cup, and Mbappé accepted the Best Young Player award.

• Tang Ye received 20,640 Counterattack Points from his club and national-team rewards, then used 7,500 points to upgrade Vardy's Red Bull and another 7,500 to improve Ronaldo Chicken Breast.
• Tang Ye's World Cup sponsorships continued to feature him in prominent advertisements after China was eliminated.
• Reports claimed Real Madrid wanted to trade Cristiano Ronaldo for Tang Ye, but Erik ten Hag opposed the deal, while Tang Ye's agent Boer told Jorge Mendes it could not happen that season.
• Manchester United signed Frenkie de Jong for €62 million, and The Sun reported that Tang Ye had been seen with a young woman in Fiorentina.
• Guangdong Yongsheng Culture Media announced the production of Pig Hero: Football Little Heroes, whose midfielder protagonist GGBond excelled at one-touch passing.
• France beat Croatia 4-2 to win the World Cup, and Mbappé received the Best Young Player award while reflecting on his team's point deduction and his own good fortune.

After returning to Manchester, Tang Ye dreamed that Cristiano Ronaldo confronted him over his lack of effort and resolved to focus on improving his physicality. With Ronaldo joining Juventus and transfer speculation fading, Tang Ye asked Erik ten Hag and Mitchell van der Gaag to let him train individually in the United States before the season began.

• Tang Ye reunited with his Manchester United teammates and said he was unlikely to leave because he had promised to beat Manchester City next season.
• Tang Ye dreamed that Ronaldo criticized his laziness, exposing how little he had done to improve his attributes and fitness.
• Tang Ye woke, reflected on Ronaldo’s criticism, and decided he needed to train harder instead of relying on passive improvements.
• Romano reported that Ronaldo had joined Juventus, prompting Barcelona to pause their pursuit of Tang Ye as he returned to Manchester United training.
• Tang Ye asked Erik ten Hag and Mitchell van der Gaag about increasing his physical training, then proposed skipping most preseason sessions to train individually in the United States.

Tang Ye skipped Manchester United’s preseason matches to train privately at the Lakers facility in Los Angeles, leaving fans puzzled about his whereabouts. He made physical gains through the demanding workouts, while Manchester United confirmed he was healthy and would rejoin the team before the season began.

• Erik ten Hag dismissed Mitchell van der Gaag’s concerns about Tang Ye’s match rhythm and chemistry as Tang Ye listened from behind them on the flight to the United States.
• After landing in Arizona, Tang Ye traveled alone to Los Angeles for fitness training at the Lakers facility and missed Manchester United’s 2-2 warm-up draw with Club América.
• Barcelona fans called for the club to sign Tang Ye after Iniesta joined Vissel Kobe, while Manchester City completed the signing of Riyad Mahrez for €67.8 million.
• Tang Ye spent five thousand comeback points upgrading Ronaldo's Chicken Breast and Kanté's Hot Chocolate Milk, then began strength training and raised his physicality and stamina.
• As Tang Ye continued to miss Manchester United matches, Transfermarkt valued him at €170 million, and Manchester United announced that he was healthy and would return before the new season.
• Tang Ye struggled with a barbell at the Lakers facility but kept training with Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma, raising his physicality and speed while Manchester United played Liverpool without him.