Chapter 673: Chapter 672: The Golden Ball Award That The Whole World Watches
Jiang Yunzhu: "Congratulations, Zidane, you’ve become the World Footballer of the Year."
Zidane, with a smile on his face: "Thank you, I thought you would start this interview with a critique. After all, I know you and Deng Kai are good friends."
Jiang Yunzhu’s face turned red: "Of course not, your popularity in China is very high. Looking at the evaluation system for the World Footballer of the Year, you indeed deserved to be chosen."
"How about yourself? How do you view this award ceremony?"
Zidane said: "In fact, how I view it is not important, how everyone views it is more important. Now everyone believes that Kai is currently the strongest football player on the planet."
Jiang Yunzhu: "Then, in your heart, who is the strongest? At the current stage, that is?"
Zidane did not hesitate: "Kai!"
Jiang Yunzhu was surprised: "I thought you would say yourself or your club teammate Ronaldo."
Zidane: "Of course, we have all achieved this point at some time. But realistically, setting aside all influences, I think Deng Kai is the number one in the football world at this stage."
Jiang Yunzhu: "So, for the upcoming Golden Ball award, you think..."
Zidane: "That’s for the judges to decide, but I believe that Kai will reap some achievements!"
Jiang Yunzhu: "This year, Real Madrid and Sporting Lisbon were drawn into the same group. How do you view this team? We all know that two years ago, they defeated you in the Champions League final!"
Zidane: "Sporting Lisbon is a decent team, but they pose no threat whatsoever to Real Madrid."
"They were elevated to a level that does not belong to them by players like Deng Kai, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Drogba, Ibrahimovic."
Jiang Yunzhu: "How do you evaluate Manchester City?"
Zidane: "Many people overlook the strength of Manchester City, but I have been paying attention to them. Manchester City is very likely one of the strongest teams in Europe this year."
"Because so far, they haven’t lost a single match. That’s quite terrifying."
"And their offense is really spectacular."
"Their defense is also better than people expect."
"But if you asked me to assess them, I would say, Deng Kai has brought this team to a level that doesn’t belong to them. Compared to his time at Sporting Lisbon, Deng Kai has done significantly more at Manchester City."
"If the players at Manchester City can’t keep up with the team’s pace, then they may disappoint the fans in the upcoming matches this season, as well as next year, and the year after."
"Because the teams Manchester City faces will become stronger and stronger, and Deng Kai, who has become the number one player in the world, will be noticed more by opponents and restricted."
Jiang Yunzhu: "Then who do you think has the potential in Manchester City to become Deng Kai’s best teammate when facing really strong opponents?"
Zidane shook his head: "That’s not important, as long as Deng Kai is there, it doesn’t matter who is beside him."
"The attackers around Deng Kai are no longer Cristiano Ronaldo, but if you look at Adriano’s stats, are they worse than Ronaldo’s? That’s Deng Kai, that’s the strength of the world’s top footballer."
"As long as Deng Kai is on the pitch, we must prioritize dealing with him! But that’s difficult!"
"Just as no one could completely stop me and Ronaldo, for the foreseeable future, no one will be able to completely stop Deng Kai."
"If there is such a person, they will surely become the strongest defender in the world right now. Real Madrid is willing to spend over fifty million to buy such a player, even if he can only defend!"
This interview is highly valuable.
But the most significant message is the "World Footballer of the Year" acknowledging Deng Kai as the world’s top-ranked player at the current stage!
That’s enough!
The hurricane... it really has arrived!
The wind rises in Manchester, sweeping across Europa, scouring the globe!
This rhythm, this grandeur... even those who never watch football can anticipate something big is happening through the sweeping coverage.
Something significant must have occurred in the world of football.
Be it a TV drama or a history book, whenever a true dragon rises, a king returns, or an emperor is crowned... the world always roars with waves of excitement!
...
December 23rd.
France, Paris, Châtelet Theatre.
The European Golden Ball award ceremony has already begun!
On the red carpet, Kaka reveals his sunny smile, walking up to the sign-in wall amidst a flurry of flashbulbs.
Yes.
Kaka!
"If you know the miracle of Sporting Lisbon, you will definitely recognize this handsome youth, Kaka!" the host is introducing Kaka to the audience around the world, "He spent two wonderful years in the Portuguese league with Deng Kai, C Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Drogba, and others."
"After joining AC Milan, even though he was a substitute, Kaka astounded everyone in last season’s Champions League semi-finals and finals, helping the Rossoneri lift the Champions League trophy."
"He is also the first player in the history of the Champions League to win consecutive titles!"
"In the summer, Kaka also clinched the Copa America with the Brazilian national team. This season, Kaka has become an absolute mainstay at AC Milan, performing remarkably well."
"He has earned this rank because of these achievements, making his first appearance in the Golden Ball’s top thirty list!"
Kaka, thirtieth in the Golden Ball rankings.
From an honors perspective, it does him an injustice.
But from a competitive standpoint, earning this rank in just half a year of play is still quite impressive.
After all, last year he was still a substitute for the Brazilian national team, with limited opportunities to play.
However, after this, if Kaka achieves more, it will be easier for him to break into the top twenty.
Following Kaka on the red carpet is the Ice Prince, Bogkamp.
This year his rank is twenty-ninth.
Considering his age, it’s unlikely he’ll rank this high again in the future.
But... looking at Arsenal’s current 17-round unbeaten momentum in the English Premiership, Bogkamp’s ranking could very well continue to rise and return to its peak in the next few years.
Twenty-eighth place is awarded to the Inter Milan goalkeeper, Francesco Toldo!
"Oh! Another member of the Sporting Lisbon miracle! Now approaching us is Ronaldinho, ranked twenty-seventh in the Golden Ball!"
"After a season of ups and downs, Ronaldinho may not have won the championship with Barcelona, but his magical abilities have conquered the hearts of the Barça fans."
"He is now the undisputed core of the Barcelona team!"
Twenty-sixth place is the Chelsea player Mutu, who just faced off against Manchester City.
Twenty-fifth place is from the Czech giant Jan Koller, standing at two meters tall and currently playing for Borussia Dortmund.
Twenty-fourth place is AC Milan’s superstar, the Fox in the Box, Yin Zhaji.
"Haha, I knew it, this scene would keep recurring! Fans of Sporting Lisbon and Arsenal must have a deep impression of this player."
"He is the only one who, at a height of one ninety-five, can still ’embroider’ with his feet! Zlatan Ibrahimovic!"
