A goal after dribbling past several opponents.
Though it had not been a long solo run from far outside the box, it still carried the shadow of Diego Maradona at his peak.
How else could he have become the symbol of an era?
Every player who made a name for himself had something to show in the big games.
Seeing this, Baresi clapped and shouted, "Play well, everyone. Drinks are on me when we get back to Milan."
Paolo Maldini looked at his old captain in surprise.
It was not that Baresi was stingy, but he was not particularly generous either.
He mainly did not enjoy team outings. He preferred spending time with his family, having meals with his brother's family whenever he had time. Even for club events, he was never especially enthusiastic, let alone treating everyone himself.
"I'm retiring, so I should make a gesture."
Baresi explained, "I heard you often go out together. If these young guys get interviewed in the future and say they've never seen Franco Baresi treat anyone, that would be a little embarrassing."
Paolo Maldini gave him a thumbs-up.
As expected of someone about to retire. He was already thinking that far ahead.
Paolo Maldini looked up at the sky.
He wondered what he would feel when it was his turn to retire.
The future was alluring precisely because it was filled with the unknown.
Paolo Maldini thought so.
When he was ready to retire more than ten years later, at the very least, he should be deeply respected by the fans.
If Christian could inherit his shirt by then, it would be even more perfect.
As the son of a star player, he hoped more than anyone else that the number 3 shirt would remain on a member of the Maldini family.