Competing on the Same Field as Ronaldinho

"Anno, I heard Ronaldinho is your idol?"

Just as Chen Anno was staring intently at the number 10 in the black-and-white striped shirt on the pitch, assistant coach Milton sat down beside him and asked.

Chen Anno's face was full of admiration. "Yes, Coach Milton. My father liked Ronaldinho, so I was influenced by him from a young age. I grew up watching him play."

Milton nodded. "No wonder your playing style is so much like his. But you're much better-looking than that guy."

Hearing Milton's words, Chen Anno merely smiled.

"Do you know? In the past, Europeans always said our football was all flash and no substance. They thought our samba football was only fit for street performances.

"It wasn't until Ronaldinho appeared. That guy is the only one in Brazil's history who best blended the flair of samba football with the practicality of European football.

"His football was a visual pleasure. He was like a magician on the pitch."

Chen Anno very much agreed with Milton's assessment. Brazilian football had produced countless footballing geniuses.

For example, the King of Football Pele, Garrincha, Zico, and others, whom all Brazilians respected greatly.

There were also many who had established themselves in Europe and made a name for themselves.

For example, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Romario, Kaka, and others.

But the only one who could be called a footballing elf, up to now, was Ronaldinho alone.

"But Ronaldinho's peak was too short." Milton's gaze also turned toward the field.

"When he took his football to the highest point in the world, he lost the motivation to keep it there, and began indulging in things off the pitch—nightclubs, women, alcohol.

"Those things made his body decline rapidly and left him unable to maintain his focus and form on the pitch anymore.

"In truth, these are all common problems for us Brazilian players. Our culture and the environment we grow up in make it very hard for us to have self-control when it comes to temptations off the pitch.

"Actually, aside from Ronaldinho, Robinho and Pato, once entrusted with great hopes by the national team, were the same.

"And I think Neymar ultimately won't escape these things either."

At this point, Milton withdrew his gaze and looked at Chen Anno beside him, his expression serious. "Anno, you're different from them. Maybe it's because half of your blood is Chinese, or maybe it has to do with the education your father gave you from childhood.

"Anno, you're the most hardworking player I've ever seen, bar none. You're also the most talented player I've ever seen. Your future definitely won't be any worse than those players I just mentioned.

"Even including your idol—the guy with the ball right now."

Milton patted Chen Anno on the shoulder. "Vizoli and I have been old colleagues for many years. We often talk about you together, and we both believe we don't need to worry about your development.

"But Anno, promise us that you'll always keep your love for football, and always enjoy happy football, all right?"

Chen Anno looked at Milton in front of him and nodded seriously. "I will, Coach Milton."

Just then, Ronaldinho got the ball again on the pitch. He casually wiggled his hips a few times, didn't even look at his teammate, and sent out a wonderful through ball.

A burst of warm applause immediately rose from the stands.

Unfortunately, Tardelli's shot failed to get the angle right and rolled past the post and over the goal line.

Chen Anno looked regretful. Although Ronaldinho could no longer run, standing there he could still deliver such exquisite passes.

"Hey...! Anno, we almost conceded. Why do you look kind of sorry about it?"

Silvinho bumped Chen Anno with his shoulder. Only then did he come back to his senses. The other side was Atletico Mineiro—they were in the middle of a match.

"Ahem..." Chen Anno gave a dry cough and argued, "You must have seen wrong. I was feeling relieved. That's right, relieved that shot went wide."

On the field, Atletico Mineiro had been in control the whole time, but three days earlier they had gone to distant Mexico to play a Copa Libertadores knockout match, so they had no advantage physically. (Note: Before 2017, Mexican teams participated in the Copa Libertadores.)

As for Sao Paulo, because of the gap in strength, it was basically very difficult for them to produce any truly threatening attacks.

Until the referee blew the whistle to end the first half, the scoreboard in the stadium still showed 0:0.

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Chen Anno sat on the bench, his eyes constantly glancing sideways at Ramalho. Even when the old coach disappeared into the players' tunnel, he still hadn't heard that line: Warm up properly, I'll put you on in the second half.

"Don't worry, Anno. Warm up properly. You'll definitely get a chance to come on in the second half."

Seeming to see what was on the youngster's mind, Silvinho offered a word of comfort.

"Really?" Chen Anno immediately perked up.

"Really, really." Silvinho was somewhat torn between laughter and tears.

He actually understood the mindset of young players like Chen Anno. Taking part in matches and getting exposure—that was their goal.

Only when they had enough exposure would scouts notice them, and only then could they get the chance to go play football in Europe.

In Brazil, all young players were like this. Including him back then—it had been the same.

"Think about it. You played so well last match. If the coach doesn't let you on in this match, when we get back to Sao Paulo, won't those fans swallow him alive?"

Hearing this, Chen Anno nodded. He felt Silvinho made a lot of sense, and his spirits immediately improved greatly.

Facing the football passed over by a teammate, he blasted it with one shot.

Seeing this from the side, Silvinho smiled and shook his head.

Youth was great!

After the short break, the second half soon began.

The fourth official raised the substitution board on the sideline, but it was a change for Atletico Mineiro.

On Sao Paulo's side, although Chen Anno kept casting hopeful looks at Ramalho again and again, he received no response.

As time ticked by, the score on the field was still 0–0.

Just when Chen Anno really couldn't sit still anymore, a voice like music to his ears came over. "Anno, go warm up. You've got five minutes."

Chen Anno shot up from the bench, splashing water all over Silvinho, who had been drinking.

But Chen Anno couldn't care about any of that right now. He casually wiped Silvinho's face a few times, then ran to the sideline to start warming up, leaving Silvinho sitting there completely bewildered.

About three minutes later, Chen Anno came back.

Ramalho sounded a little helpless. "Anno, I said five minutes..."

"Sir, it was five minutes. I counted every second."

"OK... OK... Then listen. After you go on..."

Ramalho carefully explained what he needed to do after taking the field, and Chen Anno listened very seriously, nodding nonstop.

In the 76th minute, Sao Paulo made a substitution.

Chen Anno replaced Lucas Evangelista. After coming on, he still played as an attacking midfielder.

Seeing Chen Anno take the field, the several thousand Sao Paulo fans in the stadium immediately applauded him.

"Good luck, Anno!"

"Thank you, Alo!"

Chen Anno stood in his position, his eyes fixed on Ronaldinho on the left, who was preparing to receive a throw-in, his gaze filled with worship and excitement.

"Dad, did you see that? I'm playing on the same field as Ronaldinho."