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@BVBWorldwide: "Luka Zorić's stats so far in German football:
9 appearances
10 goals
12 assists
17 years old
Is this real life?"
The tweet quickly gained traction, sparking a flurry of responses.
@BundesligaEnglish: "Luka Zorić has been directly involved in a goal every 33 minutes in the Bundesliga this season. Unreal numbers for a teenager!"
@FootballTalentScoutL "Top performing U21 players in Europe's top 5 leagues this season (G+A per 90):
Luka Zorić - 2.44
Erling Haaland - 1.54
Florian Wirtz - 1.37
Jude Bellingham - 0.89
Jamal Musiala - 0.86 The gap is staggering."
@OptaJoe: "15 - Zorić has been directly involved in 15 goals in his first 7 Bundesliga games(8 goals, 7 assists), the most by any player in their first 7 starts in the competition's history. Phenomenon."
@FootballStatManager: "Luka Zorić's goal contributions per 90 minutes this season so far: 2.44. At 17 years old. There is no player with even as close of a rate in the 21st century, the closest being Lionel Messi (1.59 in 2004/05). The season has just begun but rest assured we're witnessing something special."
As the hype continued to build, comparisons to legendary players became inevitable. Some began to whisper that Luka could be the new R9, drawing parallels to the Brazilian Ronaldo's impact as a teenager.
The debate intensified when the Bundesliga Player of the Month award was announced, and Luka's face was not attached to the trophy.
@BundesligaExpert wrote a lengthy thread explaining the situation: "Yes, Luka Zorić's numbers are incredible. But we have to remember a few things: 1) He hasn't been starting every game. 2) He's competing against established stars like Haaland and Lewandowski. 3) He's still developing physically.Dortmund's management of Zorić has been smart. They're not overworking him, knowing he needs time to build his strength and stamina. This careful approach might cost him individual awards in the short term, but it's best for his long-term development."
As the football world continued to dissect every aspect of Luka's game and potential, another controversy erupted - this time over his FIFA 22 rating.
@FIFALeaks had gotten hold of Luka's card for the upcoming game: "Luka Zorić - 71 OVR. Pace 79, Shooting 67, Passing 75, Dribbling 82, Defending 23, Physical 50. Thoughts?"
The response was immediate and heated.
@Kevar_Hart_1824: "71 overall? With those stats? EA have lost the plot. This kid should be at least 80 OVR with those performances!"
@UltimateTeamBossman: "79 pace? 67 shooting? 75 passing? Have they even watched him play? This is a joke!"
@FMScout announced: "Unlucky for you FIFA lads. Luka was added to FM22 with 182 PA. Best wonderkid this year on FM."
@WISTAkids replied: "Just started a Dortmund save actually. Zorić as a Shadow Striker is seriously broken. 7 goals in 10 games. This kid's definitely the meta for this year, plus you can snag him on a free if he doesn't renew with Dortmund or United."
@TifoFootball_: "New video: Luka Zorić - The Playmaking Winger. Breaking down how the 17-year-old is taking the game by storm. #https://www.youtube.com."
@FabrizioRomano: "Luka Zorić situation 🚨: Man United working on new contract, but player's camp keeping options open. Real Madrid, Barcelona, and PSG all showing strong interest. Dortmund still pushing for permanent deal. Player focused on football, not decided yet. More to follow."
@utdtrey: "We let Luka Zorić go for peanuts and now he's tearing up the Bundesliga. Meanwhile, we're struggling to create chances. Make it make sense."
@Hyuga_Tobirama "Just watched Zorić's interview from September. Kid's got his head screwed on right. Talking about learning from Modrić and Reus, improving his game. That's the mentality we need at United. Get him back ASAP!"
@Kami_Sama16: "Yo @Arsenal, you seeing this Zorić kid? That's the kind of talent we should be after. Imagine him and Saka on the wings!"
@TransferLive: "EXCLUSIVE: Puma eyeing record-breaking deal with Luka Zorić. Could be worth up to €30m over 5 years. Would make him highest-paid teenager in football history."
@StatmanDave: "Luka Zorić has broken Jadon Sancho's record for most goal contributions in a single Bundesliga season by a teenager - and it's only October. Generational talent."
@ESPNFC: "17-year-old Luka Zorić on learning from Luka Modrić: 'He's a role model for me. The way he scans the pitch, his movement off the ball - I'm trying to add that to my game.' Wise beyond his years."
@BVB: "Luka Zorić named Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for September! 🌟 Congratulations, Luka! #BVB"
@TransferChecker: "Sources close to Luka Zorić say he's 'happy at Dortmund' but 'keeping options open for the future'. Man United, Real Madrid, and Barcelona all monitoring situation closely."
@UnitedPeoplesTV: "Just imagine a front three of Rashford, Greenwood, and Zorić. The pace, the skill, the goals... make it happen!"
@ESPNFC: "Luka Zorić on choosing Croatia over England and Portgual: 'Croatia is in my blood. The way they play suits my style. I want to follow in the footsteps of Modrić and Rakitić.' Future Ballon d'Or winner for 🇭🇷?"
Luka scrolled through his Twitter feed, his eyes widening at the flood of notifications. With 650,000 followers, his account had exploded since he had joined Dortmund, but he'd barely noticed. Social media wasn't really his thing.
A notification caught his eye: "Congratulations on winning Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for September!" He blinked, surprised. "Huh, I wonder who won it for August?" he mused, making a mental note to check when he got back to Germany.
The Croatian sun was just peeking over the horizon as Luka laced up his running shoes. He'd developed a habit of early morning jogs during training camps, finding they cleared his head and set a good tone for the day.
As he jogged along the coastline, the cool morning air filling his lungs, his mind wandered to the conversation he'd had with Jorge Mendes the night before. The Puma deal sounded interesting, but what had really thrown him was the amount. Highest paid teenager in football? It seemed surreal.
Not long ago, he wasn't even good enough to make the youth team cut at Manchester United. Now, he was being hailed as the next big thing in football. It felt insane, like he was living someone else's life.
He'd always been a competitor, always wanted to be the best, but after that rejection, getting cut from United, he'd lost faith in himself Now, here he was, doing things he'd never thought possible.
As he rounded a corner, a group of young boys playing football on the beach caught his eye. One of them spotted him and nudged his friends. Soon, they were all waving and calling out to him.
"Luka! Luka Zorić!" they shouted excitedly.
Luka waved back, a smile spreading across his face. He jogged over to them, accepting their offers of high-fives and fist bumps.
"Can you show us some tricks?" one boy asked eagerly.
Luka hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Sure, why not?"
He took the ball they offered him and began to juggle it effortlessly. The boys watched in awe as he moved the ball from foot to foot, then to his knees, his chest, and even his shoulders. With a final flick, he caught the ball on the back of his neck before letting it roll down his back and flicking it up with his heel.
The boys erupted in cheers and applause. Luka couldn't help but grin. This was what it was all about – the joy of the game, the ability to inspire others.
As he continued his jog, Luka's mind drifted to his goals. He realized he hadn't clearly outlined any for himself, may wanted to beat Bayern, but he hadn't truly set any for himself. In the past, his goal had always been simple: to be the best. But after his confidence was shattered, he'd stopped allowing himself to dream that big.
Now, though? Now things were different. He was already working harder than he ever had, training more intensively, sacrificing more. So why not push himself even further? Why not aim for something he'd never dared to before?
"Be the best," he muttered to himself as he picked up his pace. "Not just good, not just great. The best."
The ball was on his hands, his potential up there with the greatest legends yet, why waste it like every other player who wasted their own potential? Rashford, Neymar, Wilshere, Balotelli, Hatem Ben Arfa… and it all came down to off either one of three things; field discipline, injuries and adaptability.
His step faltered at the thought, did he lack discipline? Luka spent almost a minute rummaging through his mind, searching for a singular moment where he acted out of order.
"There are a few," He murmured to himself. "But nothing overly… grievous."
And it was true, Luka wasn't exactly a problematic person, some would say he was shy, but if you asked him, he was simply quiet in nature.
Now in regards to adaptability, he certainly would consider himself perfectly adaptable. He had already moved to Croatia without his parents and survived for a full year on his own, without needing to rely on his distant relatives, and it was the same now, while he couldn't shake off the nagging sense of loneliness that came upon him at times, he was thriving in a country he was new to and didn't fluently speak the primary language of.
Adaptability was not a issue for Luka, but…..
The ankle.
He no longer felt the dull throb when he put too much weight on it, yet still he had to be cautious. Injuries were the bane of every footballer's existence—one wrong step, one mistimed tackle, and everything could come crashing down, just ask R9. He'd seen it happen to so many players with boundless potential, players who had been on the verge of greatness, only to have their careers cut short or derailed by injury.
Luka slowed his pace, allowing himself to focus on the sensations in his body. His ankle felt stable enough, but he couldn't ignore the lingering fear. Dr. Braun had assured him that with proper care and the right exercises, he'd be fine, but the worry gnawed at him. One bad injury could be the difference between being remembered as a legend or as just another "what could have been."
He shook his head, trying to banish the thought. He didn't want to dwell on it, but he knew he couldn't afford to ignore it either. Injuries were part of the game, but it was how you managed them that made the difference. If he wanted to be the best, he had to take this seriously. He couldn't afford to be reckless, especially not now, with the World Cup on the horizon.
The World Cup… It was only a year away, and the thought of missing out on it was unbearable. Luka quickened his pace again, Croatia had made it to the final in 2018, a feat that had inspired him as a young fan. Now, he was in a position to help them go even further.
Could they do it again? Could they even surpass that achievement?
Croatia had the quality, there was no doubt about that. And now, with him in the squad, they had an added edge. He wasn't arrogant enough to think that he alone could make the difference, but he knew he could contribute something special. He'd proven that already in the qualifiers.
But to do that, he needed to be smart about his body. He had to follow Dr. Braun's advice to the letter, doing his ankle exercises religiously, even when it felt tedious or unnecessary. He couldn't let a preventable injury ruin everything he'd worked for. The World Cup wasn't just a tournament; it was an opportunity to cement his place among the elite, to show the world what he was capable of on the grandest stage.
The prospect of leading Croatia to glory, maybe even lifting the trophy, following in the footsteps of the legends who had come before him. The idea was thrilling, almost intoxicating, but it was tempered by the knowledge that nothing was guaranteed. Football was unpredictable, and success required more than just talent—it demanded discipline, hard work, and a little bit of luck.
He turned onto a quieter path, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore nearby, He'd do whatever it took to stay fit, to be ready when the World Cup arrived.
Despite his frustration at times, he was grateful for how the Dortmund had managed him so far, not rushing him, giving him time to build his strength and adapt to the demands of top-level football. At first it made no sense to him but now as he somewhat matured, he understood the sense behind the decision. It might have cost him some individual accolades, but he knew it was the right approach. The long-term was what mattered.