Li Mingyu was the team's hope, so he couldn't get involved in a fight. But the others couldn't hold back.
Messi was Barcelona's iconic player, one of the hottest superstars in world football.
To see him attacked with such a vicious move was unacceptable, even if the culprit played for Real Madrid.
Players from both sides began shoving and trading insults. Even in the heat of the moment, they knew where to draw the line.
After all, if players from both teams were sent off for fighting, they would surely face further punishment. Atletico Madrid would be the ones to benefit, watching the two sides clash while they reaped the rewards. Neither team wanted that.
Barcelona's medical staff rushed onto the pitch and made an initial assessment of Messi's injury.
Fortunately, Messi's Achilles tendon was unharmed. It seemed that he had suffered some ligament damage.
But they couldn't judge how serious it was until he had undergone further tests at the hospital.
Messi was soon carried onto an ambulance and taken to the nearest hospital for examination.
When play resumed, Dembele came on for Messi. Li Mingyu moved to the right wing, taking Messi's place.
Being a man down made Real Madrid even more frantic.
Karim Benzema ran back and forth up front like a headless fly, but the ball never reached him.
Real Madrid's midfield had also fallen apart. They had been thoroughly beaten in their contest with Barcelona's midfield, and the center of the pitch now belonged to Barcelona.
In the 76th minute of the second half, Real Madrid sent a long ball from deep in their own half toward Karim Benzema.
At last, Benzema managed to bring the ball under control. He turned and tried to get past Busquets.
He did get past him, but Busquets blocked the ball with his long leg.
Busquets played a short pass to De Jong, who immediately sent a through ball from about thirty meters out to Li Mingyu.
With the opposition's left back, Marcelo, already sent off, the left flank was wide open.
Filled with hatred for Real Madrid, Li Mingyu surged toward their territory.
Casemiro closed in, but Li Mingyu accelerated straight past him and left him behind.
Real Madrid's back line was suddenly exposed before Li Mingyu.
Three defenders stood in his way: Vazquez, Varane, and Ramos.
But Li Mingyu wasn't the only one leading Barcelona's attack.
Griezmann charged toward the penalty area, while Dembele raced up the left flank.
All at once, the three defenders were caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to advance or retreat.
Ramos charged at Li Mingyu with a fierce look, trying to stop him before he could enter the penalty area.
Li Mingyu nudged the ball forward with his right foot and faced Ramos.
Ramos looked ready to devour him, but Li Mingyu didn't show the slightest fear.
Li Mingyu feinted as if he were going to break along the goal line, drawing Ramos off balance, then pulled off a sharp Flip Flap and flicked the ball back the other way.
Ramos was a world-class defender. Even though Li Mingyu had thrown him off balance, he recovered quickly, turned around, and stretched out a leg to take the ball.
Li Mingyu blocked the ball as it bounced back with his left foot, planted that foot on top of it, and dragged it backward, evading Ramos's challenge.
Li Mingyu nudged the ball to his left and shaped as if to shoot with his left foot.
Ramos didn't dare take it lightly. He stepped across, preparing to block Li Mingyu's shot with his body.
But to his horror, Li Mingyu's move was another feint. Li Mingyu wasn't left-footed, after all, and a shot with his left wouldn't have been very reliable.
With a deft touch, Li Mingyu pulled the ball back onto his right foot.
To block the shot he had just feigned, Ramos had taken a wide step and dropped to one knee. He had completely lost his defensive position.
Li Mingyu lightly pushed the ball forward with his right foot and went to slip past Ramos.
There was no way Ramos would let him through so easily. A fierce look crossed his face as he forcefully kicked his trailing leg backward, aiming to catch Li Mingyu in the leg.
If Li Mingyu had been caught off guard by a kick like that, he would almost certainly have been injured!
But the blue bracelet on Li Mingyu's wrist glimmered faintly. Acting on instinct, he leaped and just barely avoided Ramos's deliberate kick.
As Li Mingyu came down, he swayed and landed—seemingly by accident—on the heel of Ramos's foot. He stumbled and nearly fell.
Ramos let out a scream. Li Mingyu got back to his feet and controlled the ball. The moment Courtois rushed out, he poked it forward. The ball slipped between Courtois's legs and into the net.
0–5. Li Mingyu had scored five goals by himself, leaving Real Madrid branded with humiliation.
No one had ever scored five goals alone at Santiago Bernabeu.
Li Mingyu had done it!
After scoring, Li Mingyu ran to the Real Madrid supporters' section and made a shushing gesture.
The entire Santiago Bernabeu fell silent. Only Barcelona's supporters could be heard.
Real Madrid's fans were all stunned by the young man.
His performance had been godlike.
Gradually, respect appeared in the eyes of Real Madrid's supporters.
Li Mingyu's gesture had been provocative, but Real Madrid's fans spontaneously broke into applause.
The warmth of the crowd left Li Mingyu bewildered. He stared blankly at the fans who had risen to applaud him.
What was going on?
Seeing Li Mingyu, who had seemed so imposing moments earlier, turn into a wide-eyed young man, the fans laughed out loud at the adorable contrast.
After signaling that the goal stood, the referee walked over to the edge of Real Madrid's penalty area with a wry smile. Ramos was clutching his ankle, his face twisted in pain. The referee could only gesture toward the Real Madrid bench.
The medical staff hurried over to examine Ramos's injury. Their expressions grew grave. They shook their heads at Zidane on the touchline, indicating that Ramos couldn't continue.
Zidane's face was so dark it seemed water might drip from it. It was the most humiliating match of his time as Real Madrid's manager.
A nineteen-year-old had scored five goals against his team on their home ground. Every one of them felt like a slap in the face.
Both teams made substitutions.
Real Madrid brought Ramos off.
Barcelona brought Li Mingyu off.
They left the pitch at the same time, but one walked while the other was carried off.
Li Mingyu looked down at Ramos, open disdain in his eyes.
Before you continue