Chapter 586: Chapter 585: Ronaldo Speaks Out, Must Win the Golden Ball in This Lifetime
The thirteenth place went to Juventus’s Pierro from the Italian League.
The twelfth place was Basturk.
In the club, the Bundesliga team he played for, Bayer Leverkusen, had performed very well last season.
With Deng Kai’s help, they reached the semifinals in the Champions League and were successful in the league and the German Cup.
In the national team, Basturk led Turkey to a surprising third-place finish in the 2002 World Cup.
This also shows the boost the World Cup gives to the Golden Ball Award.
In this era, this boost was much stronger than later.
In the future, the World Cup, the European Championship, and the Champions League would be on par, with small differences.
But at that time, the World Cup dominated other cups.
The German newcomer, Ballack, was ranked eleventh.
He was seen as the future hope for the German team and Bayern Munich, the successor to Germany’s football king, Matthaus.
That’s right!
Matthaus was crowned.
At least in Germany, people regarded him as a football king-level player.
Just like the French regard for Zidane.
If one says there are no European players who could match Pele.
Then Matthaus, who had won the Champions League with Deng Kai and reached the runner-up position in his sixth World Cup, could definitely match Maradona.
The South American myth-making campaign encountered major trouble because of Deng Kai and Matthaus.
With historical comparisons, it’s difficult to deify.
Without deification, how does one crown a king?
Rivaldo made it into the top ten by winning the Hercules Cup with Brazil, ranking last.
Because his performance during this half-season at AC Milan wasn’t good, he was also overshadowed by Portugal’s star Rui Costa.
Even, if it weren’t for his great fame, Rivaldo couldn’t have outshone Kaka.
His transfer to AC Milan was a clear turning point for his decline.
This year’s Golden Ball ninth place went to a young lad.
When he combed his hair like an adult and walked over the red carpet feigning coolness, but his face, cold as ice, could be betrayed by a smile at any time.
Host: "Wow! That’s right, there are female fans on their tiptoes! Now approaching is none other than the Manchester United rising star, Cristiano Ronaldo!"
"Because there are too many Ronaldos, fans have now started calling Real Madrid’s Ronaldo ’Fat Ronaldo.’ Ronaldinho is called ’Little Ronaldo,’ while Chris is known as ’Cristiano’!"
"This naming started with Deng Kai."
"And it happened right here at the Golden Ball Award Ceremony! That year, Deng Kai was invited to attend the ceremony, and he said something on camera that sounded like a joke."
"My good friend is called Cristiano because he’s not the next Ronaldo; he will be the first Cristiano!"
"It won’t be long before he shows up here as a nominee!"
On the screen beside the red carpet, there appeared the youthful face of Deng Kai and his confident answer to the host’s question.
Some of the stars who had already made it inside also saw this on the big screens inside.
Rivaldo commented, "I still remember how I felt back then; I thought this kid had no idea what the Golden Ball meant."
"And now... their rankings are all higher than mine."
Figo: "At least you made it, Rui Costa couldn’t even show up."
Rui Costa: "Go, such an awkward moment, let’s not cue it, please."
Pierro: "It’s indeed incredible, how many years has it been? He first came here in ’98, right? Four years... just four years, and he’s gone from a viewer to a nominee."
Backstage, Zidane also spoke to the cameras set up for the interview, "Many say Cristiano is arrogant, and many say Deng Kai talks big. But considering their ages... they are already very modest."
"Especially Deng Kai, back then he could be asking for my autograph on a football, but now... I think I ought to prepare some of his autographed footballs!"
"Now, many young French players like him."
"I know a four-year-old lad whose home is covered with Deng Kai’s posters!"
Watching the younger Deng Kai with the hosts, Cristiano Ronaldo just nodded coolly, "Back then, we were always together; he understood me well, he knew that we would eventually stand here."
The host admired Cristiano Ronaldo’s composure, "What does it feel like to achieve your dream? Can you share with us?"
Cristiano Ronaldo shook his head, "Achieved? No, not yet... The final trio competing and the actual winning, that should be our dream!"
"We will definitely hold this trophy in our professional careers! Definitely!"
Having said that, Cristiano Ronaldo walked into the inner field.
At that moment, many football stars turned around to watch him.
Cristiano Ronaldo sat down in his seat, expressionless, facing enormous pressure.
That was his mindset, he never stopped moving forward.
If he had offended anyone present in the process, he could only apologize.
As dynasties change, new talents emerge, dominating for centuries!
Since he has arrived, he will not leave here easily!
"Why didn’t Cristiano Ronaldo bring a date?"
"In this kind of event, isn’t it customary to bring a date? Could it be that no one told him?"
"Aww, it’s his first time, let’s cut him some slack."
"Or he could have brought a family member, consider the feelings of the family."
"Even if he doesn’t have a girlfriend, bringing a female friend would have sufficed."
"If he could bring a famous model or actress, that would have really shown prestige."
"Speaking of which, it seems like Deng Kai brought Keira!"
"Keira Knightley? My goodness, she’s my idol!"
"The British Rose! One of the hottest actresses in Europe this year! There have always been rumors about her and Deng Kai..."
"Ah, being a Lisbons twin star like Deng Kai, how come he has such good luck with romantic interests, is Cristiano Ronaldo not up to par?"
The football stars whispered among themselves.
Cristiano Ronaldo apparently misunderstood.
Last year’s Golden Ball winner, Raul, ranked eighth this year.
That was acceptable.
The seventh place was the Gunner King, Henry, who had led Arsenal to the Premier League championship last year!
The sixth place was Zidane, who had faced off against Deng Kai in last season’s Champions League final with the move Flying Immortal Outside Heaven!
His penalty kick became the backdrop to the highlight of Deng Kai’s career.
If he had won, Zidane could have easily made it into the top three.
The fifth place went to Germany’s rising football king... Matthaus!
His glory needs no further introduction.
He is also the only retired player on this list.
That means... give me half a year, and I’m also fifth, understand?
The remaining four were this year’s Golden Ball top three.
Because Real Madrid and Brazil’s left-back Roberto Carlos, as well as Bayern and Germany’s goalkeeper Kahn, tied for the third place in the Golden Ball.
The former was stunning in the Champions League final, and even lifted the World Cup.
The latter played heroically in the World Cup, almost single-handedly driving the team to the final.
Eventually...
Deng Kai became this year’s runner-up for the Golden Ball.
With a not-too-high, not-too-low count of twenty votes, he was narrowly defeated by Ronaldo.
