Chapter 361: The Ballon d'Or Announcement, and the Winner Is... Lin Quan!
Chapter 361: The Ballon d'Or Announcement, and the Winner Is... Lin Quan!
After playing the match against Everton, Lin Quan and Guardiola took a flight to Switzerland to attend the FIFA awards ceremony. Upon arrival, they were surrounded by a throng of journalists, forming a tight ring around them. Behind the journalists, a large number of fans were held back by the venue's security. Some held up posters of Lin Quan, while others wore his jersey, all chanting his name, hoping for an autograph.
Seeing the sea of cameras and flashing lights, Guardiola couldn't help but feel nostalgic. He remembered how, just two years ago, when he first brought Lin Quan to such events, Lin was an unknown, unnoticed by the crowd. Now, he had become a superstar on par with Ronaldo and Messi. Such rapid progress in just two years was astonishing!
Lin Quan, always affectionate toward his fans, saw those holding his support signs and smiled, waving at them. He took the jerseys and autograph books handed to him and signed his name. Of course, with so many fans present, it was impossible to satisfy everyone's autograph and photo requests.
Once inside the venue with Guardiola, Lin Quan was about to sit anywhere when a staff member guided him to a seat in the front row, specifically prepared for him. Seated next to him was a familiar face, dressed in a sharp suit with a friendly smile—Lionel Messi.
"Hi, Messi!" Lin Quan greeted him, noticing Messi's smile directed at him.
"Hello, Lin. Did you come with Pep?" Messi asked, glancing at Guardiola seated not far behind them, his tone filled with a hint of envy.
"Yeah, he got nominated for the Best Coach award, so we came together," Lin Quan replied. He figured Guardiola was likely there just for show, as the Best Coach award for 2014 was almost certainly going to Vicente del Bosque, who led Spain to defend their World Cup title. Even if Del Bosque were out of the running, Manchester City's former coach, Pellegrini, who was recovering from illness, had a better chance with his five trophies.
"I envy you, getting to be coached by Pep. It's something many players dream of," Messi said, clearly admiring Guardiola.
"If you really envy me, why not accept Manchester City's offer and come play under him?" Lin Quan joked, inviting Messi.
"Don't joke. Barcelona would never accept City's offer," Messi shook his head, finding Lin's joke not amusing.
"If you really want to go, why wouldn't they accept?" Lin Quan said casually, sensing that while Messi admired Guardiola, his attachment to Barcelona was deeper. Messi just smiled and shook his head, not pursuing the topic further.
The two then chatted about football techniques. Their playing styles were similar, and many techniques were unique to them, making it hard to find someone else to discuss these topics with. Meeting someone with a similar style and level felt like looking in a mirror, and once they started talking, they couldn't stop, bonding like long-lost brothers.
"Does horse stance really improve lower body stability?" Messi asked, somewhat skeptical.
"Of course, squats and horse stance both help. I've tested it myself," Lin Quan affirmed. For players like them, active in the frontcourt core area, a stable lower body and strong physical confrontations were crucial. Only with a stable lower body and improved physical confrontation could they hold the ball after receiving it, allowing for breakthroughs, passes, or dribbling.
"Also, understanding kinesiology and rehabilitation can help find the best way to play and fully tap into our potential. Modern sports increasingly rely on technology, and we need to keep learning to keep up," Lin Quan added.
Hearing Lin's confident advice, Messi became interested. "I'll try it when I get back."
Their styles were similar, and the defensive intensity they faced was almost identical. However, Lin Quan's performance in terms of fitness and injuries was noticeably better, indicating there was something behind it. With a mindset to learn and improve, Messi took Lin Quan's advice seriously.
The FIFA awards ceremony was broadcast live, and from the moment Lin Quan sat next to Messi, a camera was trained on them, capturing their interactions.
"Lin and Messi seem to get along well, chatting so happily."
"Both came from La Masia, so maybe they knew each other before."
"Yeah, possibly. Their skills and styles are similar, so it's not surprising they get along."
"During the Messi-Ronaldo era, it wasn't this harmonious."
"Back then, the media played up their rivalry, making it seem like there could only be one top player, leading to tension among their fans."
"Exactly. Players' personalities attract similar fans. Messi and Lin are both humble and low-key, so it's natural they get along. But Messi and Ronaldo being together feels odd."
"Stop pretending Messi is a saint. When you were attacking Ronaldo, where was the humility?"
In no time, the fans were arguing again. Wherever Messi and Ronaldo fans were, arguments seemed inevitable. Lin Quan's fans watched the drama unfold, enjoying the spectacle without getting involved.
Speak of the devil, as Lin Quan and Messi were chatting happily, a tall figure sat beside them. They both turned to see who it was—it was Ronaldo.
"What are you guys talking about?" Surprisingly, Ronaldo wasn't aloof but joined the conversation.
"We were discussing ways to improve fitness and reduce injuries," Lin Quan replied.
"Oh? Got any good tips?" Ronaldo asked, intrigued.
Lin Quan repeated what he had told Messi. Messi occasionally chimed in, and with Lin Quan between them, the three could converse without any apparent tension.
This scene left those who had been fervently arguing online speechless. Wasn't it said that Messi and Ronaldo saw each other as enemies and couldn't stand each other? How come they were chatting so warmly in private?
"Lin Quan has great people skills, managing to chat comfortably with both Messi and Ronaldo!" some observed. It was evident that Lin Quan's presence had eased the tension between Messi and Ronaldo. Otherwise, with their usual relationship, they would probably just greet each other briefly, never engaging in such a lively conversation.
...
At 7:30 PM, as the guests arrived one after another, the awards ceremony officially began. As usual, the first award announced was the Puskás Award. Lin Quan, Ronaldo, and Messi, sitting in the front row, appeared relaxed, knowing none of them were nominated for this year's Puskás Award.
"Who do you think will win this award?" Ronaldo, seemingly privy to some inside information, initiated the topic.
Lin Quan and Messi glanced at each other and simultaneously said, "James Rodríguez!"
Ronaldo was slightly taken aback by their unanimous answer. "How did you guess that?"
"It's simple. His goal had the highest difficulty and was the most visually impressive. While Van Persie's header and Cahill's volley were also spectacular, they didn't quite match James Rodríguez's goal," Lin Quan explained.
Sure enough, the answer was soon revealed, and it was as Lin Quan and Messi had predicted. The winner was Real Madrid's James Rodríguez for his stunning turn-and-volley goal at the World Cup, which had earned unanimous acclaim from the judges.
Following the Puskás Award, the host, along with invited guests, announced the 2014 FIFA/FIFPro World XI. The eleven players were:
Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas Defenders: Philipp Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Thiago Silva, Jordi Alba Midfielders: Andrés Iniesta, David Silva, Toni Kroos Forwards: Lin Quan, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi
The biggest winners were undoubtedly Spain, with six players in the lineup.
Next, the hosts announced the other awards. The Best Women's Coach went to Kellermann, and the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year was awarded to Nadine Kessler. On the men's side, Spain's coach Vicente del Bosque was unsurprisingly named the Best Men's Coach.
After these awards, it was time for the highlight of the evening—the FIFA Ballon d'Or. Despite its singular name, the award represented two honors: the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year.
The big screen began showcasing highlights of the three final nominees from the past year. As the top favorite, Lin Quan noticed that his highlights seemed to feature more prominently than those of Ronaldo and Messi. His highlight reel focused mostly on spectacular goals from the Champions League and the World Cup, especially the finals of both tournaments.
As the screen replayed these crucial moments, many in the audience were reminded of the unstoppable presence Lin Quan had been on the field. These familiar scenes rekindled memories for many, as most had watched the Champions League and World Cup finals, even if they hadn't followed every league match.
Once the highlight reel ended, the camera zoomed in on Lin Quan, Ronaldo, and Messi sitting in the front row. Their expressions varied: Lin Quan appeared calm and composed, showing no signs of nervousness, impressing many with his big heart and steady demeanor. Messi, too, seemed relaxed, knowing his chances were slim after a lackluster year in both club and international play. Ronaldo, on the other hand, tried to control his emotions, appearing slightly tense. His clenched fists on his lap betrayed his inner hope, though he knew his chances were slim.
Thierry Henry, the former Arsenal star known as the King of Highbury, stepped onto the stage to present the award. Holding an envelope with the winner's name, Henry's efficient and decisive style was evident. He didn't draw out the suspense with jokes or delays. After a quick glance at the card, he promptly announced the winner:
"The winner is... Lin Quan!"
As soon as Henry announced Lin Quan's name, Messi immediately began clapping, as if prepared for the outcome. Ronaldo, sitting to Lin Quan's right, first ruffled his hair, then clenched his lips before reaching out to shake Lin Quan's hand, congratulating him. "Congratulations, you deserve this trophy!"
Lin Quan stood up with a smile, hugging both Messi and Ronaldo. "Thank you. I hope we three will be sitting here again next year!"
"Haha, absolutely!" Messi replied confidently. While he wasn't sure about winning the Ballon d'Or again, he was confident about making the top three.
"Just make sure you both congratulate me when I win next year," Ronaldo quipped, implying that he was determined to claim the Ballon d'Or the following year.
Lin Quan smiled as he made his way to the stage to accept his award, surrounded by the applause and admiration of his peers. It was a moment of personal triumph and a sign of even greater things to come in his career.