Chapter Summaries

Zhang Kuang returned to Hong Kong, trained with the team, and traveled with them to Beijing for a tense World Cup qualifier against the China National Team. The match began in freezing conditions, and despite the national team's early pressure, they failed to convert their chances as the Hong Kong Team defended compactly.

• Zhang Kuang returned to Hong Kong, met He Qigang and the He Family patriarch, then helped improve the starters by repeatedly attacking them in training.
• The Hong Kong Team arrived in Beijing, where the cold weather worried Troussier and drew both support and abuse toward Zhang Kuang from fans and reporters.
• Camacho said the China National Team needed to win, while Troussier planned to defend and counterattack as the teams prepared for the match.
• Zhang Kuang and the Hong Kong Team walked out at the sold-out Workers' Stadium, and Kim Dong-jin started the qualifier.
• The China National Team pressed early, but Fan Chun-yip saved Du Wei's header, Zhao Xuri volleyed over, and Gao Lin missed another clear chance.

The Hong Kong Team took a 2-0 lead over the China National Team before halftime, with Zhang Kuang scoring both goals on counterattacks. The chapter ended with the national team trailing at home and Camacho having made two early substitutions.

• Gao Lin was ruled offside after Zheng Zhi sent him through on goal.
• Cris Kong tested Yang Zhi with a long-range shot, and Zhang Kuang headed the resulting corner wide.
• Leung Chun-pong, Jack Xu, and Cris Kong set up Zhang Kuang’s first goal in the twenty-fourth minute, prompting abusive chants from fans at Workers' Stadium.
• The national team pushed forward, but Qu Bo hit the crossbar and Zhang Kuang continued to threaten on counterattacks.
• Camacho changed the national team to a 4-4-2, but Poon Yiu-cheuk’s cross let Zhang Kuang volley in his second goal in the forty-first minute.
• Fans abused Zhang Kuang and threw a bottle, security guards removed several offenders, and the referee ended the first half with the Hong Kong Team leading 2-0.

The Hong Kong Team beat the China National Team 3–0 at Workers' Stadium, with Zhang Kuang scoring a hat trick before being substituted. The defeat ended the national team's World Cup qualification hopes, while the Hong Kong Team qualified for the final ten with two rounds to spare.

• Camacho urged the China National Team to defend Zhang Kuang while trying to score, as Troussier planned for the Hong Kong Team to exploit gaps on the counterattack.
• The China National Team created several chances early in the second half, but Fan Chun-yip saved Yu Dabao's shot and other attempts missed or were blocked.
• Cris Kong sent Zhang Kuang through in the fifty-third minute, and Zhang Kuang dribbled past Du Wei, Sun Xiang, and Yang Zhi to score his third goal.
• Troussier substituted Zhang Kuang for Lo Kwan-yee after the hat trick, and the match slowed as the China National Team's attacks failed to score.
• Kim Dong-jin blew the final whistle on a 3–0 Hong Kong Team victory, ending the China National Team's qualification hopes and securing the Hong Kong Team's place in the final ten.

After Zhang Kuang’s hat trick led the Hong Kong Team to a 3-0 win over the China National Team, Camacho resigned and the defeated side faced renewed scrutiny over its lack of scoring power. The Hong Kong Team returned home to prepare for Jordan, knowing a win would secure first place in the group.

• Zhang Kuang credited his teammates and coaching staff for the victory, then accused those who paid fans to abuse him of betraying China.
• Camacho told the national team he would resign, and the dejected players packed up in silence while Zhang Kuang’s teammates celebrated.
• Camacho announced at the press conference that he was quitting because he could not fix the team’s lack of finishing, while Troussier confirmed the Hong Kong Team had qualified.
• Zheng Zhi told reporters he had no answers after the national team’s elimination, and security stopped angry fans from attacking Hong Kong supporters outside the stadium.
• Chinese football figures debated the shortage of capable strikers as the Hong Kong Team returned home to prepare for its match against Jordan.

Hong Kong faced Jordan in a crucial final-20 qualifier as coach Troussier insisted his already-qualified team would still pursue first place. Zhang Kuang nearly scored early, then met Cris Kong’s corner at the near post, with the outcome left unresolved.

• Troussier said Hong Kong would field a strong team and aim to finish first, while Jordan coach Adnan Hamad suggested Zhang Kuang should save his energy for Europe.
• Fans filled Hong Kong Stadium for the match, and both teams emerged for the anthems and lineup announcements.
• Jordan began by building patiently, but Chan Wai-ho cleared Ahmed Hayel’s cross in the third minute.
• Jack Xu launched a counterattack in the ninth minute, and Zhang Kuang headed Lee Chi-ho’s cross just over the crossbar.
• Cris Kong delivered an inswinging corner in the twelfth minute, and Zhang Kuang leaped to meet it at the near post.

Zhang Kuang scored twice as the Hong Kong Team dominated Jordan and took a 2-0 lead into halftime. Jordan struggled to create chances against Hong Kong’s organized defense, while Hamza Dawood continued playing despite an ankle injury.

• Zhang Kuang headed in Cris Kong’s corner in the twelfth minute to put the Hong Kong Team ahead 1-0.
• Jordan tested Fan Chun-yip with long shots and crosses, but Hong Kong’s goalkeeper and defenders kept the attacks out.
• Zhang Kuang scored from twenty-eight meters in the twenty-seventh minute, extending Hong Kong’s lead to 2-0.
• Jordan increased its midfield pressure, while Hamza Dawood briefly received treatment for his injured left ankle and returned to play.
• Cris Kong and Zhang Kuang threatened from a corner, but Shafi saved Zhang Kuang’s header.
• Jordan’s final attacks failed, and the Hong Kong Team went into halftime leading 2-0.

Hong Kong overwhelmed Jordan 4-0 to qualify for the final-10 round as group winners. Zhang Kuang scored a hat trick and assisted Cris Kong before being substituted, and the team celebrated its historic advance.

• Jordan replaced the injured Hamza Dawood with Sabah Al-Hamad, but Hong Kong kept defending firmly and Zhang Kuang threatened Shafi's goal.
• Zhang Kuang scored his third goal in the 54th minute after Shafi saved Ren Qiu's shot, extending Hong Kong's lead to 3-0.
• Zhang Kuang sent Cris Kong through to score Hong Kong's fourth goal, and Cris Kong celebrated by taking a drink from Troussier's water bottle.
• Troussier substituted Zhang Kuang after his three goals and one assist, and the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
• Jordan came close with headers that skimmed the crossbar and post, while Lee Chi-ho received Hong Kong's first yellow card and Poon Yiu-cheuk played through a cramp.
• Referee Hilali ended the match at 4-0, confirming Hong Kong's qualification for the final-10 round as group winners.

Zhang Kuang led the Hong Kong Team to a 4-0 win over Jordan, securing first place in their qualifying group, then dismissed questions about the China national team. After returning to Manchester, he rejoined training as Ferguson prepared him for the Swansea match.

• Zhang Kuang said he had no comment on the China national team's 0-1 loss to Iraq and argued that national development mattered more than football results.
• Troussier praised the Hong Kong Team's victory and said Zhang Kuang might miss the final group match if Manchester United needed him; Hamad blamed Zhang Kuang for Jordan's defeat and hoped Hong Kong would field its strongest side next time.
• Cris Kong credited Zhang Kuang's pass and the space he created for his goal, while Zhang Kuang hosted a celebration dinner before flying back to Manchester.
• Newspapers and fans celebrated the Hong Kong Team's perfect group record and compared its success with the China national team's elimination; Jordanian fans criticized Hamad's tactics.
• Zhang Kuang returned to Carrington, where Ferguson welcomed him back and told him to score against Swansea; Carrick spotted him during warm-ups and greeted him excitedly.

Zhang Kuang led Manchester United through a run of wins that restored their Premier League lead, but the team suffered a shock League Cup exit and a scandal over players’ behavior. After Manchester United thrashed Aston Villa, Zhang Kuang’s inclusion on the Ballon d’Or shortlist sparked controversy over whether he would win.

• Zhang Kuang scored a hat trick as Manchester United beat Swansea 4-0, then scored again in a 4-2 victory over Benfica that secured qualification as Group C winners.
• Zhang Kuang scored another hat trick in Manchester United’s 6-1 win over Newcastle, and Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League after Manchester City drew with Liverpool.
• Manchester United rotated their squad against Crystal Palace and lost 2-1 at home, exiting the League Cup; reports then showed Zhang Kuang with several women and Rooney visiting a brothel, prompting Ferguson to impose stricter training attendance.
• Zhang Kuang scored four goals as Manchester United beat Aston Villa 5-0, leaving them securely atop the league table.
• Messi, Zhang Kuang, and Cristiano Ronaldo were named to the Ballon d’Or shortlist, prompting fans to question the award’s fairness, while Zhang Kuang said the fans would judge whether the result was fair.

The Ballon d'Or debate intensified as Zhang Kuang’s statistics and Cristiano Ronaldo’s comments fueled arguments between English and Spanish media. Zhang Kuang then led Manchester United through a perfect Champions League group stage and into the Club World Cup final, where they faced Santos.

• English and Spanish newspapers, pundits, and supporters argued over whether Zhang Kuang or Messi deserved the Ballon d'Or, and Cristiano Ronaldo said the numbers favored Zhang Kuang.
• Zhang Kuang scored a first-half hat trick as Manchester United beat Basel 5-1, finishing the Champions League group stage with six wins and a record 15 goals for him.
• Zhang Kuang scored twice as Manchester United defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-1, then Ferguson and the squad flew to Japan for the Club World Cup.
• Zhang Kuang scored twice in the first half of Manchester United’s 5-0 Club World Cup semifinal win over Al Sadd before being substituted at halftime.
• Manchester United and Santos lined up for the Club World Cup final in Yokohama, with Zhang Kuang starting alongside Rooney and Hernández against Neymar, Borges, and Robinho.

Manchester United took a 2-0 halftime lead over Santos in the FIFA Club World Cup final, with Zhang Kuang scoring once and assisting Rooney’s goal. Ganso left injured before halftime, and Santos faced the second half needing to recover from United’s control and Zhang Kuang’s impact.

• Vidić won the toss, and Manchester United kicked off as both teams began by probing for openings.
• Neymar threatened United’s goal twice, but De Gea saved his early shot and Rafael fouled him during a later attack.
• Zhang Kuang scored in the twenty-third minute with a powerful long-range shot after Carrick sent him a diagonal pass.
• Neymar nearly equalized in the twenty-eighth minute, while Rooney’s corner header was saved and Ganso later injured his left ankle.
• Zhang Kuang nutmegged Danilo with a through ball near halftime, and Rooney finished it to make the score 2-0.
• Irmatov blew for halftime, Ferguson addressed United’s tactics, and Santos coach Muricy Ramalho urged his players to improve as fans debated Neymar and Barcelona online.

Zhang Kuang scored a hat trick and provided an assist as Manchester United beat Santos 4-1 to win the FIFA Club World Cup. After the match, he exchanged shirts and joked with Neymar before lifting the trophy with his teammates.

• Zhang Kuang headed in Giggs's corner in the 52nd minute to put Manchester United 3-0 ahead.
• Zhang Kuang scored from a free kick in the 63rd minute to complete his hat trick and make it 4-0.
• Neymar set up Borges to score for Santos in the 74th minute, and De Gea later saved Neymar's shot.
• Irmatov blew the final whistle in the 92nd minute, confirming Manchester United's 4-1 victory and FIFA Club World Cup title.
• Zhang Kuang spoke Portuguese with Neymar, exchanged shirts with him, and later joked with his teammates about their conversation.
• Vidić raised the trophy during the presentation ceremony, and Zhang Kuang said in an interview that he hoped to win more titles with Manchester United.

After returning from the Club World Cup, Manchester United crushed Queens Park Rangers, Fulham, and Wigan before beating Blackburn 5-3 in a wild final match of 2011. Zhang Kuang then flew to Paris to celebrate the New Year with friends.

• Ferguson learned that Manchester United would face Napoli in the Champions League knockout round, then warned the squad not to underestimate Queens Park Rangers after their long journey home.
• Zhang Kuang scored twice and assisted Rooney as Manchester United beat Queens Park Rangers 4-0 away.
• Zhang Kuang scored a first-half hat-trick in Manchester United's 5-0 away win over Fulham.
• Zhang Kuang scored and headed a goal as Manchester United defeated Wigan Athletic 5-0 at Old Trafford.
• Zhang Kuang scored a hat-trick in Manchester United's 5-3 win over Blackburn, then told Ferguson he planned to spend New Year's in Paris.
• Zhang Kuang flew to Paris and joined more than twenty friends at a villa to celebrate the New Year.

Zhang Kuang scored a hat trick in Manchester United’s 3-3 draw with Newcastle, then traveled to Zurich for the FIFA awards, where he met Cristiano Ronaldo and confronted a reporter over Barcelona players. On the day of the ceremony, Zhang prepared for the evening in an Armani suit, with the Ballon d’Or ceremony still ahead.

• Zhang Kuang scored three goals against Newcastle, but Manchester United drew 3-3 after Demba Ba, Cabaye, and Obertan scored for the home side.
• Ferguson told Manchester United’s players to keep their focus after the team dropped points, while the club remained seven points ahead of Manchester City.
• Zhang Kuang traveled to Zurich with Ferguson, David Gill, and Vidić ahead of the FIFA awards ceremony and told reporters he and Ferguson deserved to win their awards.
• Zhang Kuang met Cristiano Ronaldo at the hotel, and they discussed football and the Ballon d’Or over coffee.
• At the welcome dinner, Zhang Kuang refused to greet Barcelona players and told a Spanish reporter he would not greet people who had tried to break his legs; Vidić later advised him about his attitude toward the media.
• Zhang Kuang spent the next morning exploring Zurich, agreed to wear Armani for the ceremony, and prepared for the evening in a bespoke suit.

Zhang Kuang won the 2010-11 Ballon d'Or at the Zurich Opera House, becoming the first Chinese and Asian men's player to receive the award. In his acceptance speech, he credited Chinese history and culture with shaping his belief that people could overcome adversity through their own efforts, prompting an emotional response in the hall and across China.

• Zhang Kuang was named to the 2011 team of the year alongside Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and other stars.
• Ferguson received FIFA's Presidential Special Award and then won the best coach award for leading Manchester United to five trophies.
• Homare Sawa won Women's World Player of the Year, while Neymar received the Puskás Award.
• Ronaldo announced Zhang Kuang as the 2010-11 Ballon d'Or winner, and Cristiano Ronaldo congratulated him.
• Zhang Kuang thanked Ferguson, Auxerre, his teammates, and China, and said Chinese people relied on their own efforts to overcome difficulties.
• He Wei and Chinese fans reacted emotionally to Zhang Kuang's speech as it aired live across China.

After winning the Ballon d'Or, Zhang Kuang defended his football philosophy and cultural remarks in a lengthy interview, impressing even his rivals with his confidence and eloquence. As international newspapers debated his victory and views, a dispute over Li Weifeng’s Ballon d'Or vote raised questions among Chinese fans.

• Zhang Kuang explained that his practical style of football complemented rather than contradicted Messi’s beautiful football, and clarified that his Noah’s Ark story described cultural differences rather than attacking religion.
• Zhang Kuang praised Cristiano Ronaldo’s discipline, joked that his own scoring record left him little reason to work harder, and defended his blunt conduct on the pitch.
• Messi admitted to Guardiola that Zhang Kuang’s statistics, audacity, and intellectual flair made him difficult to dislike, while Cristiano Ronaldo watched the interview and resolved to keep trying to catch up.
• Li Weifeng publicly said he did not know about the first-place vote cast in his name for Casillas, prompting debate before FIFA gave no response and the controversy faded.
• Newspapers worldwide praised Zhang Kuang’s record-breaking season while offering sharply different reactions to his remarks and the cultural significance of his Ballon d'Or win.

Zhang Kuang’s Ballon d’Or win and acceptance speech sparked intense debate worldwide over his footballing ability, cultural identity, and criticism of Western narratives. The chapter ends with a Chinese scholar calling for education to promote “universal values” and comprehensive learning from the West.

• BBC Sport’s poll showed that more than 78% of respondents approved of Zhang Kuang winning the Ballon d’Or, while fans argued over his achievements, speech, and conduct.
• American, South American, Asian, and Chinese media published sharply divided reactions to Zhang Kuang’s award and remarks about Chinese and Western culture.
• Chinese online commenters fiercely debated Zhang Kuang’s cultural confidence, while readers attacked a Weibo intellectual who urged learning from the West and faith in God.
• BBC’s Football Focus, French Canal+, German ZDF, and Italian RAI discussed whether Zhang Kuang was a football genius, a troublemaker, or a philosophical thinker.
• A Chinese scholar criticized Zhang Kuang and called for the education system to discard what he viewed as cultural dross and promote universal values by learning from the West.

Zhang Kuang led Manchester United through a run of dominant victories, including three wins over Liverpool, while standing by his controversial comments about cultural differences. The squad traveled to Napoli for the Champions League knockout match, where Zhang Kuang arrived to find reporters still eager to question him about politics.

• Zhang Kuang defended his remarks to reporters, arguing that dissent and cultural exchange helped societies progress, while Ferguson praised his composure and said he would rest him for some matches.
• Zhang Kuang scored twice as Manchester United beat Bolton 4-0, then scored twice and assisted a goal in their 4-1 away victory over Arsenal.
• With Zhang Kuang rested, Manchester United defeated Liverpool 2-1 in the FA Cup; Zhang Kuang later scored a hat trick in a 5-0 win over Stoke City and two goals in a 3-1 victory at Chelsea.
• Zhang Kuang scored twice and assisted two goals as Manchester United beat Liverpool 4-1, completing three victories over them that season.
• Manchester United flew to Napoli ahead of their Champions League knockout match, and Zhang Kuang asked reporters at the airport not to revive the political controversy.

Manchester United faced Napoli in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie, with Napoli’s early pressure testing United’s defense and goalkeeper De Gea. Zhang Kuang created chances for his teammates but had yet to shoot as the match remained scoreless.

• Before the match, Walter Mazzarri urged Napoli to press aggressively, while Sir Alex Ferguson backed Zhang Kuang and warned that United needed multiple away goals.
• Napoli fans greeted United’s bus with boos and fireworks, and Ferguson told his players to exploit the space behind Napoli’s advanced wing-backs.
• Vidić withdrew with calf discomfort before kickoff, so Ferdinand entered United’s starting lineup against Napoli’s 3-4-1-2 formation.
• Napoli pressed from the start, and De Gea blocked Cavani’s close-range attempt before later saving Hamšík’s curling shot; Aronica also headed a corner just wide.
• United threatened through Carrick and Rooney, while Zhang Kuang cut inside and crossed for Hernández, who headed over.
• By the twenty-first minute, Zhang Kuang had beaten Maggio and created a promising chance, but he had not yet taken a shot, drawing speculation from viewers.

Manchester United took a 2-0 away lead over Napoli in the first half, with Rooney scoring first and Zhang Kuang adding a powerful long-range goal after missing a one-on-one chance. The teams headed into halftime with Napoli needing to attack and United poised to exploit the space behind their wing-backs.

• Giggs found Rooney with a diagonal pass, and Rooney cut inside before curling a left-footed shot into the far corner to give United a 1-0 lead.
• Carrick blocked Inler's long-range shot with his back, while De Gea saved efforts from Lavezzi and Zhang Kuang missed a one-on-one chance against De Sanctis.
• Zhang Kuang collected Carrick's pass and blasted a long-range shot into the top-right corner, putting United ahead 2-0 just before halftime.
• Campagnaro sent Napoli's final first-half chance over the bar, and the teams went to the dressing rooms with United leading.
• During halftime, Zhang Lu said United had exploited the space behind Napoli's wing-backs and noted that Napoli's possession and shot totals had not translated into goals.