Chapter 4: Drops from a Sports Star

Lisbon, Estádio Alvalade.

As the event progressed, the stadium commentator grew increasingly excited, "I am honored to introduce today's guests to everyone. They are... the midfield master from Barça—Josep Guardiola!"

"The owner of the Portugal number ten jersey—Rui Costa!"

"The two-time consecutive Portuguese Super League Golden Boot striker, Mario Jardel!"

"The presidents and executives of the three major clubs—Sporting Lisbon, Porto, and Benfica!"

Deng Kai looked at the three stars on the screen, filled with emotion.

Guardiola was considered a first-class midfielder during his playing days, but there was definitely a gap between him and the megastars.

Yet, who could have imagined that a decade or two later he would become one of the top managers in the world, even more influential than the superstars?

Although Rui Costa was not as dazzling after retirement, his status in Portuguese football as a player was beyond doubt. He was also one of the core representatives of Portugal's golden generation of footballers.

Mario Jardel was somewhat of an underdog.

If we go by the future standards of data analysts, Jardel was the most remarkable amongst these three stars.

He was the winner of the South American Libertadores Cup, top scorer, and best player.

In his three years in the Portuguese Super League, he led Porto to three league championships, one Portuguese Cup championship, and secured two Super League Golden Boots for himself.

Without surprises, in the future, he would claim three more Super League Golden Boots.

In six years in the Super League, he got five league championships, five Golden Boots, several Portuguese domestic cup championships and Golden Boots, one European Bronze Boot, and two European Golden Shoes, with statistics so exaggerated they're shocking!

However, whether it's at this very moment or in the historical standings of the future, there's no way he could be compared to the former two.

Such is the difference between the five major leagues and the other leagues in this era.

Even Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga are considered less prestigious, and the EPL is not authoritative enough.

Only by making a name in Serie A or La Liga, can you truly become a Suposida!

Eventually, after the speech from the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, the young players began to enter the field.

Various cameras, seeing the procession ordered by height from shortest to tallest, immediately focused on the end.

Several talented players, headed by Ronaldo, were rather tall and all positioned at the back.

But three media outlets' cameras quickly swung back.

They belonged to Lisbon's largest circulating Portuguese daily "Morning Post," Portugal's most prominent "College Student Newspaper" in the education sector, and from China's leading football media "Sports Weekly."

Other media reporters cast questioning glances.

The reporter from the "Morning Post" said, "We broadcast a lot of content, involving economy, politics, society, culture, entertainment, sports—we always need imagery of Asians for the news."

This made sense.

The "College Student Newspaper" reporter felt that, "This Asian looks familiar; I feel like I have reported on him before."

"Isn't he the thirteen-year-old prodigy Deng Kai who was exceptionally admitted to the University of Lisbon this year?"

"That must be him… There's no mistake… Why is he here? Isn't he a scholar? Can he also play football?"

The "Sports Weekly" reporter was immediately excited.

An Asian!

Deng Kai?

That's a Chinese name, right?

A prodigy? A scholar?

Wow, he must be Chinese!

Exceptionally admitted to the University of Lisbon?

For real?

This is super big news for the home country!

For a moment, quite a few people took an interest in Deng Kai.

But their attention was only fleeting, and soon they were attracted elsewhere.

Because the last young player also appeared.

Hugo Almeida, the promising Portuguese young striker, was already in Porto's pocket—they had long secured a deal with Almeida's parents! He could very well be the answer to Portugal's forward line for the next decade!

Jose Fonte from Sporting Lisbon's youth system, the oldest and tallest player in the match.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the talented young man from Madeira Island, the proud striker, the next Quaresma in Sporting Lisbon's cunning plan! The one after the next Simon!

After the players entered the pitch, the starters went onto the field, and the substitutes took their seats on the bench.

Eusebio and Figo stood in the coaching area.

With the blast of a whistle, the match officially started.

...

"GOAL!"

"Beautiful goal!"

"Unbelievable! That's his third goal today! He's completed a hat-trick!"

"He's absolutely a super genius. I have no doubts now that he could be the next Quaresma, the next Simon!"

"Let's shout out his name, Cristiano"

All fifty thousand spectators cried out in unison, "Ronaldo!"

Just from the sound, you would even think it was that alien, Ronaldo, about to wreak havoc at the World Cup who was playing.

"Three to one, Team Figo has completely dominated the match!"

"If it weren't for Almeida's bad luck today, Team Figo would have scored five by now!"

"No, it should have been seven. Chris and his teammate Amorim each squandered a chance at a one-on-one with the goalie."

"The Panther Team has been totally blown away; they don't have a single highlight."

"That little guy named Mutinho completely failed to carry the burden of organising the game; he lost the ball every time he got it today."

"No way around it, at this age the physical differences between players are just too great. Mutinho has good skills, but he's just too small. It's like kids playing with adults."

"Speaking of small players, the Panther Team has an even shorter one on the bench, it's simply a disaster."

"I hope that kid doesn't end up with a trauma when he comes on later."

In the 72nd minute of the game, Eusebio made another substitution, having already made one at the fifty-minute mark, but to little effect.

Deng Kai walked to the sideline; he'd been given the chance to play.

"Good effort!" Deng Kai patted the dust-covered Mutinho, who was coming off the field.

Mutinho looked dazed, a far cry from the lively presence he was before the game.

The chatterbox was left speechless by the defeat.

As Deng Kai took to the field, a voice that only he could hear rang in his mind.

"You have used a star player's drop item—'The Dutchman's Applause' and 'Young Ronaldo's Flame of Vengeance!'"

"The Dutchman's Applause: Cruyff applauds your performance. During the match, you will receive an increase in upper body strength from Cruyff!"

"Young Ronaldo's Flame of Vengeance: You've defeated a young C. Ronaldo, igniting his unyielding fighting spirit. When you become Ronaldo's opponent, he only thinks of dribbling past you!"

Deng Kai smiled slightly.

These were the post-match rewards he received three years ago.

After every game, the system would give him a post-match performance rating.

Depending on the rating, he would receive different rewards.

For that game, Deng Kai received an SSS rating and obtained these two star player drop items.

They would become the only two things he could rely on in this match.

Because he had missed three years of training and hadn't grown much, his football skills hadn't changed much from three years ago.

Three years before, he might have stood out among his peers.

But now, as Cristiano had said, Deng Kai had been far surpassed.

Of course, Deng Kai had a strong intuition that even if he had continued playing football over these three years, his skill level would probably be exactly the same as now, without any improvement.

Because this was the "limit of mediocrity."

So at this moment, Deng Kai was sure that his decision back then had been correct.

Sharpening your axe will not delay the work of cutting wood.

Without those three years of accumulation, he would have been constrained by his talent.

Now, however, he could feel himself improving at every moment.

Because his current talent rating was that of a once-in-a-generation genius!