How to be a Champions

"Seriously, how many times have you played that old game? No one plays virtual football games anymore—they're all extinct now. You should try something new, like Dragon Wrath 2, which is really popular."

"Shut up, Old Man. I don't care about what's popular; this is the only game I want to play," replied Kenneth Lee.

"Whatever, just don't forget to pay your bill from yesterday." The VR capsule rental owner then walked away, leaving Kenneth behind.

Kenneth operated the screen beside a large capsule, selecting a game called FIFA Football VR 4. This was the last installment of the FIFA Football VR series, released 20 years ago in 2402.

From a young age, Kenneth had loved football. Unfortunately, the sport had gone extinct; there were no longer any professional competitions he could watch. This was due to the rise of other forms of entertainment, which led to football being considered outdated.

The last professional competition held was the 2130 World Cup, won by Brazil. Although virtual football games remained somewhat popular, they eventually faded, with FIFA Football VR 4 becoming the last football game on the market.

Kenneth then opened the capsule and lay inside it. Slowly, the capsule door closed automatically.

The scene in front of Kenneth suddenly changed dramatically, transforming into a vast, dark room that seemed endless. 

A few doors appeared suddenly, each with a different color. Above the doors, there was text. Kenneth walked towards one door labeled "[Career]."

[Which year would you like to start your career?]

Kenneth entered the year 2014, specifically June 17, 2014. He had played this game many times, setting it in the era when the rivalry between the world's two best players was still ongoing. After the Messi and Ronaldo era, while many world-class players emerged, none could match the intensity of their rivalry.

Kenneth enjoyed watching their competition, but he also wanted to compete against the next generation after Ronaldo and Messi. So, he chose to start in 2014, when both Messi and Ronaldo were still at their peak.

England, born in 1998 under the name Kenneth Lee—this was the identity he set for his new career journey. The reason he chose England was clear: he wanted a chance to win the World Cup and the Euro.

After setting a few other details, Kenneth began the game.

However, he felt something was different this time. For some reason, he had an odd feeling about this playthrough.

***

"Hey Pat, I found a kid in the U-18s who's playing exceptionally well. I think he's good enough to join the U-21s," said Simon Davies, the assistant coach and Academy Director at Manchester City Academy. 

Standing in front of him was former Arsenal player Patrick Vieira, who had helped the Gunners achieve their "Invincibles" season and now served as Head Coach of Manchester City U-21.

Patrick looked at the young player standing beside Simon. "Are you serious? He looks too young. Is he your relative?"

Realizing Vieira thought he was showing favoritism, Simon quickly denied it. "No, it's not like that. Just watch him play—I think you'll understand. Some players are destined to enter the professional leagues early."

"Alright. Show me what he can do."

Simon Davies then led Vieira to the field where the U-18 team was practicing. There, Manchester City U-18 was holding a training match. The arrival of Vieira and Davies instantly motivated the young players to show off their skills. However, Davies and Vieira only had their eyes on one person: Kenneth Lee.

Unlike the others, Kenneth played with remarkable composure. He controlled the midfield with his dribbling and short passing, helping the blue team continuously dominate the yellow team. Five minutes later, he broke through the yellow team's defense and delivered a grounded assist to a teammate at the far post.

In just 30 minutes, he performed exceptionally well, scoring two goals and providing three assists. Moreover, he successfully intercepted several of the opponents' counterattacks.

"What do you think?" Simon asked Vieira.

"For his age, he reads the game very well. He can dictate the tempo skillfully and has solid technical ability with a strong goal-scoring instinct. Yeah, you're right. He can move up to the U-21." Vieira understood why Simon recommended Kenneth. With his current abilities, staying in the U-18 wouldn't help him much, as the intensity in the U-18 matches was too low.

"Hey, Kenneth, come here," Simon called out to Kenneth after the game.

Kenneth quickly ran over to Simon and Vieira.

"You did very well. Congratulations! Starting tomorrow, you can train with the U-21," Simon said, patting Kenneth on the head.

"Thank you for giving me the chance to play with the U-21. I won't disappoint you," Kenneth replied calmly.

Patrick Vieira was slightly surprised by the composure of this young player. He hadn't expected Kenneth to display such calmness not only on the field but also off it.

Vieira then said, "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow. Don't be late."

"Okay, Boss."

After Vieira and Simon left, several of Kenneth's teammates in the U-18 gathered around him, eager to know what had happened. Kenneth explained that he would begin training with the U-21 starting tomorrow.

"Really? I'm so jealous, man," said Pablo Maffeo, a right-back, shaking his head, although he knew Kenneth was well-deserving of his promotion to the U-21 squad.

"No need to be jealous. I'll still join you for the UEFA Youth League and FA Youth Cup. Besides, I'm sure you guys will catch up soon." Kenneth looked at a few of his U-18 teammates.

As far as he knew, Pablo Maffeo would later join Girona and then move to Germany. Angus Gunn would have a decent career, joining clubs like Norwich and Southampton, and Tosin would end up with Fulham.

As for some of the other players, Kenneth wasn't quite sure what their futures held.

"It's a shame I won't get to meet Foden, Brahim Diaz, and Sancho," Kenneth murmured.

After training, Kenneth stood by the road, waiting for someone to pick him up.

"This marks the 30th day I've been in this world."

At first, Kenneth didn't want to believe it, but the evidence was right in front of him. He had truly traveled to the past while playing a game. It was unbelievable. For days, Kenneth had done various things to confirm that this was the real world and not a virtual one.

"But I guess it's not all that bad."

Kenneth felt that his previous life had been rather boring, while this new life was exhilarating for him. He was excited by the challenge of becoming a footballer and achieving the things he had often accomplished in the game.

"System, show my attributes," Kenneth said.

Kenneth Lee  

Age: 16  

Height: 175 cm  

Weight: 60 kg  

---

Attributes  

- Technical Ability  

  - Passing (Average of Sub-Attributes): 76  

    - Short Pass: 83  

    - Long Pass: 74  

    - Crossing: 71  

    - Through Ball: 75  

  - Finishing (Average of Sub-Attributes): 70  

    - Accuracy: 65  

    - Power: 76  

    - Technique: 70  

  - Set Piece (Average of Sub-Attributes): 69  

    - Free Kick: 72  

    - Corner Kick: 69  

    - Penalty: 68  

  - First Touch: 77  

  - Dribbling: 76  

  - Ball Control: 83  

  - Heading: 59  

  - Tackling: 40  

- Mental  

  - Aggression: 62  

  - Anticipation: 74  

  - Bravery: 60  

  - Composure: 78  

  - Concentration: 73  

  - Decision: 81  

  - Determination: 81  

  - Flair: 70  

  - Leadership: 55  

  - Off the Ball: 68  

  - Positioning: 42  

  - Teamwork: 81  

  - Vision: 64  

- Physical Ability  

  - Acceleration: 78  

  - Agility: 75  

  - Balance: 67  

  - Jumping Reach: 63  

  - Natural Fitness: 60  

  - Pace: 70  

  - Stamina: 61  

  - Strength: 51  

---

Overall Rating: 68  

Left Foot: Fairly Strong  

Right Foot: Very Strong

Indeed, the FIFA Football VR 4 game system had followed him into this new world. With this, it wasn't impossible for Kenneth to become a top footballer.