The Pull of Superstars

August 5, Wembley Stadium, London.

Liverpool's first official match of the new season was about to begin.

Wembley, with a capacity of over ninety thousand, was completely packed today.

The media had released the figures before the match.

This game would be broadcast live by more than three hundred media outlets across 157 countries worldwide.

It was only a Community Shield match, yet it had directly set the broadcast record for the competition, nearly rivaling a UEFA Champions League final.

That was the pull of superstars.

The names Messi and Chen Anno alone were enough to drive football fans around the world mad.

With just over ten minutes left before kickoff, the players from both sides had already gathered in the tunnel.

This was Chen Anno's first official match leading the team as Liverpool captain.

As soon as the team reached the junction in the tunnel, he spotted Messi at first glance.

The Argentine was dressed in Chelsea blue, still wearing the number 10.

Hazard, who had worn number 10 last year, had switched to number 7.

Chen Anno walked straight up to Messi, hugged him first, then clasped his hand. "I didn't think you'd actually come."

Messi grinned. "Wasn't I answering the call of our Super Anno? You spoke up yourself. If I hadn't come, wouldn't that mean I was afraid to face you?"

The two of them laughed.

There was no hostility. The two men standing at the summit of world football exchanged their pre-match greetings in this manner.

But the moment they broke apart from the hug, both knew that once the whistle blew, as long as they were not wearing the same shirt, they were enemies.

After greeting him, Chen Anno headed to the front of Liverpool's line.

As he passed a shiny bald head dark