Li Kang rubbed his forehead.

After half a season of fierce battles, the shadow energy in his brain was almost depleted.

Suddenly, cheers erupted from the television.

The BBC commentator shouted frantically, "Goal goal goal goal~!"

Dortmund had equalized.

Enrique angrily slammed his water bottle down.

Reus celebrated with a sliding knee celebration... and tripped.

Favre raised his arms, but after only a few steps, he clutched his left calf in pain. This 60-year-old tactical master wasn't injuring himself during a celebration for the first time.

Li Kang turned off the television, picked up his phone, and replied to the messages from friends and family one by one.

Nothing major had happened.

It was just that Völler had been bombarded.

He had recently proposed to the German Football Association: "German football is sick. The Bundesliga must give more opportunities to local forwards. I hope the Bundesliga's top scorer is a local player."

This statement immediately drew the dissatisfaction of fans: Sick? We are the reigning World Cup champions!

Many media outlets also dug up a series of racist behaviors Völler had committed against black people when he was younger, calling him a "narrow-minded nationalist."

Li Kang didn't care whether German football was sick or not.

He reposted an article "Supporting Völler" on social media and even gave it a like.

A Golden Ball winner farting would attract attention from the entire internet.

Gradually.

The public opinion in German football began to reverse: "Völler's wife is Roman, his two sons are Italian, and the Golden Ball winner he cultivated is Chinese. How could he be a narrow-minded nationalist!"

A few minutes later.

Li Kang finished browsing the messages from a few girls before turning off his phone and going to sleep.

As for Messi's repost of *The Soul of Red and Blue*, he still hadn't read it.

That night.

News about the Champions League Round of 16 quickly occupied the headlines of major sports media.

*The Blue That Never Fades, Chelsea Conquers the Parc des Princes.*

*An Unstoppable Barca, Liverpool Falls at the Camp Nou.*

*The Long Road After Wenger, The Gunners Lead Twice, The Black and Yellows Equalize Twice, A Draw at the Emirates.*

*Super Saiyan Bayern! The Bavarian Giants Trample Old Trafford.*

The number of likes, reposts, and comments exploded.

-

[Enrique, you idiot! My four-way parlay was only missing Arsenal. How could they be equalized by Dortmund at the last minute?]

-

[As steady as Li Mingdeng, even he can't save a parlay that includes Enrique.]

-

[Enrique's set-piece level is very high, but his on-the-spot command after the team takes the lead is prone to decision-making errors.]

-

[It's a pity. Whenever I see this Neymar and Mbappé CP lose, my heart aches.]

-

[What heavy taste? I still prefer to watch Courtois and De Bruyne's fan fiction. I'm looking forward to their "dual swords combining" at the 2018 World Cup.]

-

[Bayern is awesome.]

-

[Li Mingdeng is awesome.]

The next morning.

The Chelsea team took a plane back to London.

Diego Costa was wearing headphones, grinning foolishly.

"The Real Reason Courtois Gave De Bruyne the Green Hat?"

"The Belgian Spouses of Hatred."

Kant subconsciously moved his butt away from this Blue's center forward with peculiar fetishes.

Morata gesticulated excitedly to Li Kang, saying how simple the game would have been if he could have played.

Buffon really wanted to tell a joke but couldn't think of one for the moment.

After racking his brains, he decided not to bother.

Just enjoy the beautiful time of the last few years of his career.

Time flies like water, never to return.

Chelsea's upcoming schedule was very tight.

On the weekend's Premier League matchday, they would host Arsenal at home.

In the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 in the middle of next week, they would host Paris Saint-Germain at home.

There was also an FA Cup match interspersed in between.

Stamford Bridge.

Dino had just approached Abramovich's luxurious office.

When he was immediately bombarded with questions.

"How could you let Li be so tired? He's rotated too few times. Do you have to let him play the full ninety minutes against teams like Oxford United?"

Dino looked helpless.

Wanting Abramovich to not interfere in the club's affairs? Impossible.

The past coaching teams had already summarized the experience: don't refute, listen patiently.

At the same time.

Li Kang and his little assistant rushed to Gelsenkirchen.

Ms. Sandra greeted them warmly.

No longer a professional smile, her tone was sincere:

"Völler is our German team's great hero. How could he be slandered as…"

"Li, thank you for standing up for him."

Völler was the main striker for the German team when he was young, contributing wonderful goals in the semi-finals and finals of the 1986 World Cup. His handsome and charming mustache made thousands of girls…infatuated.

But then.

Some fans also called him the king of diving.

1990 World Cup Final, West Germany vs Argentina.

The battle of Tianwang Mountain.

The final battle at the top of the Forbidden City.

Some people said that Argentina was a depleted team, missing two offensive players, but in the actual game, the performance of the rotated players also brought hope to the Pampas fans.

The direction of the game at the beginning was a bit subtle.

Völler became the most dazzling presence on the field, overshadowing the "Three Musketeers" and "Ball King" Maradona.

He exploded on the Argentine defender, successfully stealing the ball to create opportunities many times, six shots, twice facing the goalkeeper, all the balls that even Ibrahimovic's grandmother could kick in, he all skyed…

Angering the head coach, Beckenbauer, to loosen his tie.

85th minute of the game.

Völler fell in the penalty area, helping West Germany get a penalty opportunity.

Brehme made it in one go, securing the victory!

Maradona shed tears in the city of Rome.

West Germany finally won the World Cup.

This was also the last time they lifted the Hercules Cup, because a few months later, East and West Germany officially merged.

Without too much small talk.

Li Kang, under the guidance of the staff, went to the studio.

The bearded director was extremely excited.

"Li, my Golden Ball winner, I haven't seen you for almost half a year!"

While speaking, he couldn't wait to pull out several Chelsea home and away jerseys.

Li Kang took the pen and skillfully signed his name.

The bearded director quickly stuffed the jersey back into the backpack next to the small stool.

"Let's hurry up, time is money!"

The advertisement was simple to shoot.

Li Kang took Veltins' new winter beer and posed a few times.

"Turn around!"

"Like holding the Golden Ball, hold the beer and slowly turn around."

"Yes, that's the feeling!"

"The rest is up to post-production!"

"The final content of the finished product is: The Golden Ball winner holds the beer, slowly turns around on the top of the tower, overlooking Europe."

The bearded director's expression was serious, directly copying the script of *France Football*.

Anyway, the French didn't dare to do anything to the Germans!

The shooting was stress-free.

Li Kang only changed his clothes once.

Two hours later.

Li Kang took the elevator to Veltins' reception room.

The little assistant diligently took out a football from his suitcase, hinting for Li Kang to go to Claudia's office.

He slumped on the sofa and started bargaining with Ms. Sandra about the advertising renewal contract.

The endorsement of the Golden Ball winner must be more expensive.

Even if he became Veltins' son-in-law one day, it would have to be more expensive.

Li Kang met Claudia.

After not seeing her for more than half a year, the German girl had gained a little bit of weight, her complexion was rosy, and her hair was shiny.

He handed over the football.

It was the commemorative ball for completing a hat-trick in the World Cup qualifiers.

When a person's body is good, their mood will also be good.

Claudia smiled and took the football, hugging it in her arms.

Behind her, the display cabinet windows were filled with a dazzling array of handicrafts and commemorative balls.

Night fell.

Li Kang and his little assistant rushed back to London.

Energy was full.

(End of this chapter)