Legend of the Beautiful Game: I’m Actually a Dragon

On the podium, Zhou Lin held the Ballon d’Or and declared with ringing conviction, “Who says being born in a stable means you’re bound to be a fine horse? No, I’m actually a dragon!” Arrogant! He was just too arrogant! Too bad no one in the audience dared to disagree. Even Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, seated in the front row, could only exchange rueful smiles. Everyone knew that the Chinese-descended star onstage could defeat his opponents with his skill on the ball, and melt the entire pitch with his fury. Klopp instinctively touched his face and murmured, “Back then, he used those exact words to make my face sting!” Long-retired Beckham and Djalminha sighed at the same time. “He used to remind us of ourselves back in the day. But neither of us ever reached his heights.” That’s right! The defiant genius onstage had already surpassed countless predecessors and was becoming a new football legend!