Chapter 675: Chapter 674: My Coronation, Aiming for the Top
Arsenal did not win any championships last season, making Henry’s third-place finish highly controversial.
But in terms of competitive status, he truly deserved it.
The runner-up was... the Iron Man, Nedved!
In the end, Nedved, who failed to win the Champions League, was defeated by Deng Kai.
Despite that, he just teamed up with Jan Koller to lead the Czech team into the European Championship finals as the first-place finisher of Group C.
They were also one of the contending teams predicted by the professional media.
Apart from the Czech team, the teams from France, England, Spain, and Germany were also favorites for this European Championship.
Of course, after today, the list of teams vying for the European Championship will have to include another.
That would be the Portuguese team, which boasts three players ranked in the top fifteen of the Golden Ball.
Moreover, these three are not Figo and Rui Costa!
They are Deco, Ronaldo, and... Emperor Kai!
The 2003 European Golden Ball first place winner, the new Golden Ball laureate, Europe’s best midfielder, the Premier League’s finest player, Emperor of Manchester City—Deng Kai!
Boom!
The venue erupted with enthusiastic applause.
This time, no one could stop Deng Kai from reaching the top.
"In the past year, Deng Kai led Manchester City, a Premier League newcomer, to three championships—the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the Community Shield!"
"Last season, he was honored as the Premier League Golden Boot with thirty-four goals, equalling the Premier League’s record for goals in a single season!"
"So far this season, he has scored twenty-nine goals for Manchester City in all competitions and provided seventeen assists. He is currently at the top of both the Premier League’s goals and assists charts in the Premier League and the League Cup!"
"The team he leads, Manchester City, is the only team in the world that remains unbeaten! A winning streak of ten in all competitions and twenty-five unbeaten matches!"
"The name ’Blue Moon of Terror’ echoes throughout Europe!"
"He is creating miracles! If Lisbon Athletics was a miracle, then Manchester City might now be becoming a myth!"
"Now, let’s invite this year’s Golden Ball winner, Deng Kai, to the stage to deliver his acceptance speech! Please!"
Whirl!
Applause thundered once again.
Under the gaze of thousands, Deng Kai walked onto the stage.
Presenting him the award was the Portuguese legend, Eusebio.
This is currently the most significant legend in Portuguese football.
Apart from him, no one knew who else was qualified to present the Golden Ball to Deng Kai.
Deng Kai embraced Eusebio and signaled to him to wait a moment.
With the trophy in hand, Deng Kai stepped half a body’s width to make room for Eusebio and introduced him to the camera, saying, "Seasoned fans will definitely know who the man presenting me the award is."
"But football is a great sport; it is constantly absorbing fresh blood."
"So, it is necessary for me to introduce to every new fan, to every person who might not know who he is, that he is Eusebio da Silva Ferreira! He is a supremely legendary superstar of the 1960s!"
"Known as the Black Panther, he won countless honors, he was the Golden Ball winner of 1965, and he twice ranked second in the Golden Ball during his career."
"If I were to describe his greatness in one sentence, I think his portrait should appear on Portuguese coins!"
"Let us give our warmest applause to this football legend!"
Whirl!
Applause filled the air once more.
Eusebio was very excited, nodding continuously, then exited the stage to the audience’s farewell.
Deng Kai continued his Golden Ball speech: "Perhaps this sounds a bit unreal, but in fact, Eusebio was the mentor of my football career!"
"Not because it was through him that I came to know football."
"But in the summer of 1998, during the Portugal ’Diamond Generation’ Invitationals, Eusebio, acting as the head coach, led the Black Panther Hunt to defeat the Figo team, coached by Figo himself."
"After the match, Eusebio praised his own team’s midfielders, prompting the Lisbon Athletics youth team to make a great decision."
"They made an exception to sign that thirteen-year-old player."
Frankly, Eusebio’s Black Panther Hunt provided almost the most support to Deng Kai in the early stages!
The camera turned to the president of Sporting Lisbon.
By his side, Mr. Trigella, the current national coach of Portugal, was also present.
Next to Trigella sat the current manager of Manchester City, Maxa.
"Of course, I also want to thank Mr. Trigella and Mr. Maxa, who discovered and believed that I could succeed in football."
"They gave me the opportunity, and all I could do was to repay their trust with championship after championship!"
"Additionally, I want to thank my girlfriend, Anne Hathaway, who silently gave me a lot of support. When I was down, she would enlighten me, and most of my non-football related happiness was given by her."
The players down below started to make a ruckus.
Some even called for Hathaway to join Deng Kai on stage.
Seeing that the moment had arrived, Deng Kai also reached out to Hathaway, "Anne! Come on up!"
Anne Hathaway’s face turned red.
This "Come on up" reminded her of some more private matters.
She walked onto the stage somewhat shyly.
But after all, she’s an Oscar-winning actress; Hathaway quickly adjusted her demeanor and stood next to Deng Kai, a handsome man beside a beautiful woman.
The two embraced warmly.
By comparison, a certain Ronaldo down below wore a look of disdain.
He kept telling himself that Deng Kai’s speech was so cliché, lacking any originality.
Meanwhile, he secretly resolved that when he won the Golden Ball award one day, he definitely wouldn’t mention that bastard Deng Kai, not even a single word!
Yes!
Deng Kai didn’t even kick him!
Ronaldo was about to explode with anger!
How could this ungrateful guy not know that at Sporting Lisbon, especially in their youth team, it was him, Ronaldo, who always was the C?
Who was it that carried the team with unparalleled performance time and time again?
It was him, Ronaldo!
"Oh! Sorry." Deng Kai looked towards Ronaldo.
Everyone also turned to look at Ronaldo.
Everyone knew that Ronaldo was Deng Kai’s best friend.
Deng Kai pointed at Ronaldo.
Ronaldo was just putting on an air of cool arrogance a second ago but couldn’t help laughing the next.
Cheers erupted!
"Ms. Jiang Yunzhu! Founder of Understanding Football! Special consultant for Record Report!" Deng Kai pointed to Jiang Yunzhu behind Ronaldo, "My career has been full of controversies, especially in the early days when no one believed in us."
"But Ms. Jiang Yunzhu, Record Report, and Understanding Football supported us all the way, showing the real us to everyone, making us understood and loved by more fans."
"I will always remember your fair voice in my heart."
Jiang Yunzhu stood up and greeted everyone.
She is now a media mogul in the football world, with countless resources at her fingertips.
The applause was especially enthusiastic.
And this fervent applause, it was like a series of slaps across Ronaldo’s face.
He was played by Deng Kai!
That scoundrel!
He definitely did it on purpose!
