Chapter Summaries

After Maël’s four-goal Community Shield performance, rival clubs tried to recruit him, but he chose to renew with Arsenal on a record-breaking contract. He celebrated at his Hall of Fame as the new Premier League season was about to begin.

• Guardiola, Florentino, and Mendes ran into Wenger and Little Kroenke at Wembley while discussing their interest in Maël.
• Bookmakers slashed Maël’s Golden Boot odds after fans rushed to bet on him, eventually removing him from the market and opening special goal-scoring bets.
• Florentino and Guardiola each tried to persuade Maël to join their clubs, but Maël explained why he wanted to stay at Arsenal.
• On August 17, Maël signed a new Arsenal contract with a weekly salary of £330,000, a £10 million signing fee, and bonuses tied to winning multiple titles.
• Maël visited his Hall of Fame with Isabella and Ava, then looked ahead to Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Sunderland on August 18.

Arsenal opened the Premier League season with a 4–0 win over Sunderland, then signed Gareth Bale as Maël scored and assisted in consecutive league victories. After Maël welcomed Bale to the club, Arsenal beat Stoke City 5–0 and extended their unbeaten run to 40 matches.

• Maël applauded as Arsenal honored him for winning the European Championship before the season opener against Sunderland.
• Van Persie and Giroud scored before halftime, and Maël assisted Giroud’s goal as Arsenal took a 2–0 lead.
• Maël scored a long-range goal in the second half, helping Arsenal beat Sunderland 4–0 and earning one goal and one assist.
• Arsenal officially signed Gareth Bale, and Maël welcomed him at the training base while Tottenham fans protested Daniel Levy.
• Maël scored and assisted against Stoke City as Arsenal won 5–0, reached 40 matches unbeaten, and moved within nine matches of the Premier League record.

Maël reorganized his training to improve his shooting and passing while preparing to attend the UEFA Awards Ceremony with Isabella and his team. After learning he was a finalist alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, he arrived in Morocco increasingly nervous about whether he would win.

• Maël decided to prioritize four skills nearing higher levels and Fancy Footwork while adding shooting and passing to his training.
• Maël told José he still wanted to pursue his limits, and José helped him develop new training drills for shooting and passing.
• Isabella brought Maël several custom suits, and he promised to take her to the UEFA Awards Ceremony; she chose a red dress to wear with his black suit.
• Davis announced that Maël, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi were the final three UEFA Best Player nominees, and Maël invited his team and Aisha to attend.
• Maël and his group flew to Morocco, where Mendes confirmed Ronaldo would attend and said the award result would not be known until the ceremony.

Maël attended the UEFA Awards Ceremony in Monaco with Isabella and won both a place in UEFA’s Best XI and the 2012 UEFA Best Player award. He left the ceremony celebrating his first major senior-team individual honor and resolved to pursue even greater achievements.

• Maël prepared for the ceremony with Isabella as his teammates discussed Messi and Ronaldo and waited for the awards to begin.
• UEFA announced its Best XI, naming Maël as the final forward alongside Messi and Ronaldo.
• Maël returned to Isabella after the Best XI presentation, then watched Messi win UEFA Forward of the Year.
• Platini announced Maël as UEFA Best Player, and Maël kissed Isabella before going to accept the trophy.
• Maël accepted the award and reflected on his rise through club and international football, then vowed to become football’s top player.

Maël won UEFA Best Player, and Wenger won Best Coach, as friends, former mentors, Arsenal players, and French officials celebrated their achievements. The ceremony ended with the Champions League group draw and Maël promising that Arsenal would keep excelling in the new season.

• Maël’s friends and staff celebrated his UEFA Best Player award, while Mendes quietly savored the result.
• Gareth Speed and Joelson heard Maël’s acceptance speech on the radio and shared an emotional celebration by the Sheaf River.
• Arsenal’s youth players and coaches cheered Maël, and Saka named him a new role model while Hans praised his influence.
• Michel announced Maël’s award at a meeting in the Élysée Palace, prompting the officials to applaud him.
• Wenger won Best Coach, embraced Deschamps, and called Maël to his feet before raising his trophy in tribute to him.
• The ceremony concluded, the Champions League groups were drawn, and Maël posted that Arsenal would continue to stand out in the new season.

Arsenal defeated Liverpool 5–1 at Anfield as Maël scored four spectacular goals, taking his league tally to seven in three matches. After the win extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run to 41 matches, Wenger declared that he wanted the team to remain unbeaten for another season.

• Maël put Arsenal ahead in the 33rd minute with a long-range volley, then scored again four minutes later with a backheel finish from Kyle Walker’s cross.
• Maël completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute by breaking past Liverpool’s defense and driving the ball into the net.
• Agger received a second yellow card, and Maël scored a curling free kick to complete his four-goal haul.
• Podolski added Arsenal’s fifth goal, while Gerrard scored late for Liverpool as Arsenal won 5–1 and reached 41 unbeaten matches.
• Wenger told reporters that he wanted Arsenal to surpass the 49- and 58-match records and pursue another unbeaten season.
• Maël posted that he had chosen a red-and-white goal net as his award commemorative feature at the stadium.

After celebrating new contracts and gifts with his staff, Maël joined the French Team for the start of the 2014 World Cup European Qualifiers. The chapter ended as France kicked off against Bulgaria, with Maël aiming to build toward surpassing Henry’s national-team scoring record.

• Maël’s staff celebrated their raises, and José and Davis discussed the sacrifices they had made for their careers and families.
• Isabella asked Mendes to arrange a surprise London gathering for the staff’s families, and Maël gave his team customized luxury gifts.
• Maël flew to Clairefontaine, reviewed France’s Group B draw and schedule, and met the new forward Griezmann.
• Deschamps warned the French players not to underestimate Bulgaria and led them through a pre-match analysis before the qualifier.
• Maël led the French Team onto the pitch at the Stade de France, where the match against Bulgaria began and he set his sights on Henry’s scoring record.

France beat Bulgaria 4–3 after nearly surrendering a two-goal lead, then routed Malta 9–0 in the next European Qualifier. Maël scored twice against Bulgaria and a hat-trick against Malta, reaching 23 goals for France before preparing to return to club football.

• Bulgaria took the lead from a corner, but Cabaye equalized and Maël scored a long-range goal before halftime; Giroud made it 3–1 in stoppage time.
• Maël scored his 20th goal for France in the second half, then left the match with two goals and an assist as Bulgaria scored twice late; France held on to win 4–3.
• French media criticized Deschamps and the defense after the Bulgaria match, while L'Équipe published statistics highlighting Maël's scoring and assist records.
• France started a heavily rotated lineup against Malta, where Maël scored twice in the first half and completed a hat-trick in the 64th minute.
• Giroud scored a hat-trick and assisted Griezmann as France won 9–0; Maël exchanged shirts with a Malta player and prepared to return to the Premier League.

Maël celebrated the French Team documentary’s premiere, watched Arsenal defeat Southampton and West Ham, and officially opened Maël Company. The new company began operations with Maël’s media, brand, portrait-rights, and social-media interests under one roof.

• Peter told Maël that Football Record had sold the documentary rights to 23 companies across 132 countries for £28.3 million, and the assembled staff watched its premiere.
• Maël praised the documentary and discussed Football Record’s growing subscriptions with Peter and Emilia before preparing to move the businesses into a new shared office.
• Arsenal beat Southampton 4–1 with a rotated lineup, and Wenger promised the substitutes more playing time.
• Arsenal came from behind to beat West Ham United 5–1 as Maël scored twice, helping Arsenal remain top of the Premier League after five rounds.
• Maël cut the ribbon to officially establish Maël Company, bringing together 42 employees and appointing Isabella, Pepino, Peter, and Emilia among its initial executives.
• Maël discussed plans to expand his fanbase and prepare for future public-relations challenges with Sides, the company’s new social-media and PR expert.

Forbes rankings showed Arsenal rising to second among the world's most valuable clubs, while Maël ranked fourteenth among athletes by earnings because the list excluded his later bonuses and endorsements. Maël and Arsenal began their new Champions League campaign away to Montpellier, where he set his sights on winning the trophy.

• Sky Sports reported that Arsenal's market value had climbed to £2.39 billion, placing them second behind Real Madrid and ahead of Manchester United and Barcelona.
• BBC explained that Maël's Forbes earnings ranking reflected income from June 2011 to June 2012, before his major bonuses and endorsements, and predicted he could reach the top three next year.
• The BBC host said Maël's record-breaking salary and bonuses had helped push Messi and Ronaldo toward higher contracts and begun changing football's wage structure.
• On September 23, Arsenal captain Maël walked onto the pitch beside Montpellier captain Hilton for the opening match of the Champions League season.
• As the Champions League anthem played, Maël resolved to overcome his past failures and lead Arsenal toward the first Champions League title in the club's history.

Arsenal beat Montpellier 4–1 and Coventry 6–1 as Maël pursued a perfect September, while Bale learned he might start the next match. Maël also renegotiated his Puma deal to allow him to build his own brand, and the chapter ended with him arriving at Puma headquarters to meet Orto.

• Maël dribbled past Bocali and Mbiwa before setting up Giroud for Arsenal's opening goal three minutes into the match.
• Maël scored twice, Van Persie added a goal, and Belhanda converted a penalty as Arsenal defeated Montpellier 4–1.
• Arsenal beat Coventry 6–1 with a heavily rotated lineup, extending their season-opening winning run to eight matches.
• Bale told Maël that Wenger was considering letting him start the next match against Manchester City.
• Maël signed a new Puma contract that extended their partnership through early 2022 and removed restrictions on his own brand, except for competing sportswear brands.
• Maël drove to Puma headquarters and went to Orto's office.

Maël signed a renewed non-compete agreement with Puma and discussed plans for his brand with Isabella, whose unusual behavior left them wondering if she might be pregnant. Arsenal then traveled to face Manchester City, where Bale made his debut in a starting lineup alongside Maël and Van Persie.

• Maël reassured Orto that his brand would not launch football boots soon, signed Puma's new agreement, and offered to help promote Puma in future campaigns.
• Isabella outlined plans to open brand stores across the United Kingdom and several European countries, and Maël agreed to help promote them.
• Maël trained toward improving his skills, bringing Curved Blade and Arc Guiding close to leveling up.
• Isabella told Maël she had not had her period for two months, and Maël suggested she get checked at the hospital.
• Wenger kept Bale's possible appearance against Manchester City uncertain until Arsenal's lineup revealed Bale would start alongside Maël and Van Persie.
• Maël led Arsenal onto the Etihad Stadium pitch with Bale making his debut in the starting lineup.

Arsenal came from behind to draw 1–1 away to Manchester City, ending their winning run but extending their unbeaten streak to 44 matches. Maël equalized with a long-range strike and later rejected a reporter’s demand that he explain the result, then reflected on staying focused for the matches ahead.

• Wenger and Mancini greeted each other before Arsenal and Manchester City began an even contest at the Etihad Stadium.
• Bale beat Clichy down the right and crossed toward Van Persie, but Lescott cleared the ball for a corner.
• Lescott headed in David Silva’s corner in the 34th minute to give Manchester City a 1–0 lead, and Arsenal went into halftime trailing.
• Maël scored from distance in the 68th minute after Kyle Walker passed him the ball, leveling the match at 1–1.
• Mancini ordered Manchester City to defend deep, and they held on through the final 20 minutes to secure a draw and end Arsenal’s winning run.
• Maël told reporters he had no need to explain the draw, then considered on the bus how he could stay focused on the matches ahead.

Arsenal beat Olympiacos 5–2 and Norwich 7–2, with Maël starring in both victories as Arsenal stayed level with Chelsea atop the Premier League. At Chelsea, Fabregas, Ribery, and Benzema confronted Maël’s superior combined goal tally and left the canteen under mounting pressure.

• Lineker noted Arsenal and Chelsea’s unbeaten starts, highlighted their late-October clash, and questioned whether Manchester City and Manchester United could keep pace.
• Arsenal beat Olympiacos 5–2 as Bale scored twice, Maël provided two assists and scored, and João Pereira and Podolski also found the net.
• Maël scored twice and assisted twice as Arsenal thrashed Norwich 7–2, while Bale and Van Persie also contributed goals.
• Arsenal remained tied with Chelsea on 19 points after seven league rounds, while Maël’s season totals reached 15 goals and seven assists across competitions.
• Fabregas read a report comparing Maël’s output with the combined totals of himself, Benzema, and Ribery, then saw that the other two already knew about it.
• Fabregas, Benzema, and Ribery ate in silence and left separately, struggling with the pressure of trailing Maël’s individual production.

Maël chose to play against Korea and the Czech Team during France’s international break, while Deschamps warned that the extra match could affect his club schedule. Before France faced Korea, Maël encouraged a discouraged Giroud, who was named to start after Mene caught a cold, and the chapter ended with Maël preparing for the match while wondering about Isabella’s mysterious news.

• Deschamps discussed France’s three upcoming matches with Maël and agreed to rest him for one, though Maël preferred to play Korea and the Czech Team.
• Maël reassured Deschamps that he understood the workload risks, and Deschamps declared that France aimed to qualify directly for the 2014 World Cup as group leader.
• Sagna and Koscielny discussed Maël’s national-team goal tally, while Maël found Giroud discouraged and encouraged him to keep pursuing his career.
• Giroud learned that Mene had caught a cold and that Deschamps had put him in the starting lineup against Korea.
• Korean fans gathered outside the Stade de France, where some clashed with French supporters before both teams arrived for the match.
• Maël received a mysterious message from Isabella in the players’ tunnel, set aside his worries, and prepared to face the Korean Team.

France faced South Korea in a match that grew increasingly rough as South Korea’s man-marking and complaints sparked controversy. Maël scored the opening goal and, determined to silence the protests, set his sights on turning the game into a rout.

• France and South Korea began the match with South Korea pressing aggressively and marking Maël closely.
• Park Jong-woo fouled Maël repeatedly, then taunted him after receiving a yellow card.
• Griezmann sent Giroud toward the box, but Maël raced onto the loose ball, broke through the defense, and scored in the 21st minute.
• South Korea’s players and fans protested that Maël had fouled Park Jong-woo, but the referee upheld the goal and warned the players to focus on the match.
• As play restarted, Maël resolved to score more goals, while Deschamps looked to him to secure a decisive victory.

The French Team overwhelmed Korea in a match that Maël helped turn into a humiliating rout. Maël scored again late to make it 6–0, with the French Team still dominating.

• Matuidi carried the ball forward before Ben Arfa crossed for Giroud to score France’s second goal in the 26th minute.
• Ben Arfa set up Maël, who scored a long-range goal in the 41st minute to make it 3–0.
• Koscielny headed in Ben Arfa’s corner in the 43rd minute, giving France a 4–0 halftime lead.
• Deschamps urged the French Team to keep attacking, and Nasri scored in the 52nd minute to make it 5–0.
• Choi Kang-hee substituted Kim Young-gwon for Son Heung-min in the 64th minute to strengthen Korea’s defense.
• Nasri crossed from the right in the 83rd minute, and Maël beat Park Jong-woo in the air to score France’s sixth goal.

Maël led France to a 10–0 rout of Korea, after which players from both teams fought in the locker room. The Korean players were beaten down before French Police stopped the brawl.

• Maël celebrated his hat trick as Korean players blamed Park Jong-woo, then Kim Bo-kyung shoved him and a fight broke out among the Korean Team.
• Deschamps substituted Maël to protect him, and Giroud scored France’s seventh goal after Nasri’s assist.
• Kim Bo-kyung and Son Heung-min were sent off, Nasri scored a penalty, and Sagna’s deflected shot made it 9–0.
• Matuidi headed in France’s tenth goal in stoppage time, and the referee ended the match.
• Giroud warned Maël that Korean players had attacked Sagna in the locker room, so Maël and the French Team rushed in and beat the Koreans with sticks before French Police stopped the brawl.

Maël accepted Isabella’s pregnancy and agreed they would discuss their future when he returned from training camp. He rested as France beat Armenia, then scored against the Czech Team and began celebrating with a knee slide.

• After France’s 10–0 win over South Korea, Deschamps said the team aimed to win its next two matches and climb the rankings.
• Isabella told Maël she was pregnant and asked whether he would marry her; Maël supported having the child and arranged for them to talk after camp.
• Maël sat out France’s match against Armenia, where his teammates came back from a 1–0 deficit to win 3–1.
• France entered its match against the Czech Team with nine points, and Maël started in the lineup against Arsenal teammate Rosický.
• Maël urged France to draw the Czech Team forward, then scored with a long shot in the 38th minute to put France ahead.

Maël helped France defeat the Czech Team 4–0, completing four straight wins in the European Qualifiers and strengthening France’s hold on first place in Group B. After returning to London, he and Isabella discussed her pregnancy and their future as a family.

• Maël missed a close-range chance before assisting Nasri to make it 2–0 against the Czech Team.
• Giroud scored twice, and France won 4–0, with Maël recording one goal and two assists as France reached 12 points from four qualifying matches.
• Deschamps told the French Team players they would meet again the following year and rallied them by declaring they were always a champion team.
• Maël returned to London, greeted waiting fans, and left with Isabella to visit the street where they had first walked together.
• Maël and Isabella discussed their unborn child, and Maël promised to make time for her and their family once he had reached the top of his career.