Chapter 669: Chapter 668 Global Recognition, The Number One Person in the World of Football
"FIFA Thanks Deng Kai for Not Going on a Rampage Again! Insiders Reveal That FIFA Had Multiple Consultations with Deng Kai’s Team in Advance for Fear of Another Oscar-worthy Scene!"
"FIFA: The Awards Are Fair and Justly Voted, Our Selection Process Is Indeed More Influenced by Fame. Hence, Even Though Deng Kai Scored Higher Among the Professionals, the Winner Was Zidane!"
"The Biggest Injustice in Football! Deng Kai Misses Out on the World Player of the Year, A Bitter Pill to Swallow Even More than Matthaus Losing to Ronaldo Last Year!"
It was, after all, one of the two highest honors in world football.
The World Player of the Year award ceremony subsequently sparked heated discussion.
And this was not a bad thing.
Without clarity, reason remains obscured.
Before these discussions, nobody seriously considered Deng Kai as the world’s top player.
He was generally referred to as the Premier League’s top midfielder, Europe’s best midfielder.
But Mendieta had also received this honor.
Veron was in this same category.
Yet in people’s perception, they were considered a notch below Beckham.
And Beckham, had never been part of the discussion for the world’s best player.
In terms of ability, Beckham ranked below the likes of Zidane, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Figo.
Awards, fame, skill, and status in football, these things cannot be generalized; each one requires players to dedicate effort, and it all depends on opportunity and luck.
Many players are unbeatable within the industry, but simply don’t become widely known—what can you do about it?
For a player who manages to break through in all these aspects, it would require immense fortune!
So before this award season, Deng Kai was actually considered a third-tier superstar in the world.
But after this discussion.
The opportunity had come!
Whether people accept Zidane as the World Player of the Year or not.
At the very least, everyone agreed on one thing... Deng Kai, Zidane, and Ronaldo were all in the running for the world’s best player.
And in terms of pure athletic performance, Deng Kai was currently half a step ahead of Zidane and Ronaldo.
Which means... Deng Kai is the current number one player in the world!
Without a doubt!
This sent the Premier League into an instant frenzy.
The Premier League had waited for so many years, and finally, they had a world’s best player!
They were even excited at the thought of composing a song for Deng Kai titled "The World’s Number One!"
Liverpool suffered a targeted assault from Sporting Lisbon, going from potential quintuple champions to just double champions.
Owen’s historical status plummeted, not even making it into the top ten for the Golden Ball award.
His rightful Golden Ball was snatched away by Raul.
Consequently, Deng Kai became the Premier League player most likely to be considered the world’s top star.
In fact, on some real-time rankings, he had already been at the top of the world for quite some time.
The English media had also emphatically supported Deng Kai in the preceding discussions.
If Deng Kai is the world’s top player.
Then the Premier League can confidently compete with La Liga for the title of the world’s number one league—a title previously claimed by Serie A.
Previously, world’s best players like Figo, Rivaldo, Zidane, and Ronaldo all joined La Liga. When it came to top talent, the Premier League was indeed in a lower league.
Including Beckham’s departure, all dealt heavy blows to the Premier League.
Luckily, the rising stars from Lisbon who joined Manchester City are now among the top ten for World Player of the Year, holding up half the sky for the Premier League.
Otherwise, with just Henry alone, their backs would have broken long ago.
...
December 17.
The quarterfinals of the English League Cup may have never had so many followers.
More than two hundred media outlets were present.
The match was broadcast in over forty countries and regions around the world.
Because this was Deng Kai’s first game after officially being crowned the "world’s number one".
Zidane’s FIFA World Player of the Year was more commonly seen as a respect and reward for his past.
With Zidane’s last win of FIFA World Player of the Year as the dividing line, the battle for the world’s number one title between Ronaldo and Deng Kai officially came to an end.
Deng Kai fully ascended to the top!
Zidane: Why is it my last time? I can still peak for three more years!
Ronaldo: Can you not include me? I think my career can still be salvaged!
This quarterfinal of the English League Cup took place at Manchester City’s home ground, where they had the home advantage.
But the visitors were no ordinary opponents.
It was the Chelsea Blues, owned by the Russian oligarch Abramovich!
After aggressive reinforcement, Chelsea, already among the top four of the Premier League, became even stronger, and now... they’re still the fourth in the Premier League!
However, this is not to say that Chelsea was underperforming.
They are currently one of the leading group in the Premier League, which has seen a gap in strength emerge.
On the Premier League standings, Arsenal and Manchester City are still the top two to date.
Both teams, to date, have gone sixteen rounds unbeaten in the league!
Just behind them is Manchester United, trailing by one point.
Manchester United lost more than one game, but they have no draws, so they are closely trailing the score.
And Chelsea in fourth place is just one point behind Manchester United.
There is a nine-point gap between Chelsea and the fifth place in the Premier League, clearly not in the same league of teams.
Liverpool: Who the hell are you talking about?
Chelsea: Don’t misunderstand, I’m talking about the fifth in the Premier League, nothing to do with you being ninth!
"Hello to all the viewers, good to have you with us... I’m your good friend, the changing voice wife!" Inside the China Central Television Studio 5, Huang Jianxiang surprisingly started with a female voice.
"Alright, no joking with everyone. Yes, our commentator guest today is Gao Yuanyuan!" Huang Jianxiang introduced Gao Yuanyuan.
It turned out that they had performed a skit together just now.
Huang Jianxiang: "Today, Chelsea is going all out; their goal for this season is clear, and that’s to bring a championship home for their new boss Abramovich."
"No matter what championship it is."
"This is pretty much like Manchester City last season."
"But Chelsea’s lineup is obviously much stronger than Manchester City’s last season."
"The two forwards Mutu and Crespo will be partnering up. Hasselbaink is eagerly waiting on the bench!"
"The four midfielders are Joe Cole, Lampard, Makélélé, and Duff. This is definitely one of the most luxurious midfield quartets in the Premier League."
"This pair of devilish wingers is unstoppable in the Premier League. Makélélé can be called the best in defense, and Lampard oversees the center. With the Blue Four working together, even if Manchester City’s Deng Kai is known as the world number one, can he really handle four opponents alone?"
"The defensive line-up from left to right is Gallas, Terry, Bridge, and Melchiot."
"Goalkeeper Cudicini."
Gao Yuanyuan nodded quickly and took up the conversation: "On the Manchester City side, it’s surprising that they are still using their reserve lineup for this stage of the English League Cup, which has some significance."
"Last season, Manchester City defeated Chelsea in cup matches. But Chelsea beat Manchester City three-zero twice consecutively in the league."
"Doesn’t Manchester City have even a little desire for revenge?"
