Chapter 553: Phenomenal Superstar
Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi looked at the confident man on stage with complex expressions. Since they entered the football world, Wang Feng has been the ultimate player. However, despite their efforts, they still felt far behind the Chinese superstar.
"Someday I will replace him as the new king of football!" They both turned to look at each other, their faces still smiling, but the sense of competition in their eyes was evident.
The voting results for the Ballon d'Or showed Wang Feng leading by a wide margin with 53.88%, Messi in second place with 12.60%, Ronaldo in third place with 12.23%, and Alonso in fourth with 6.01%.
The intense competition between Messi and Ronaldo was beyond everyone's expectations, with the Portuguese losing by only a slight margin of 0.37%.
Ronaldo expressed his dissatisfaction to the reporters, saying, "It was predictable that Wang would win. Whether it's personal stats or team honors, he has performed extremely well."
"I am fortunate to witness the football legend in person. The image of him lifting his eighth Ballon d'Or will forever be etched in my mind, urging me to strive towards his direction."
"To lose to Messi and rank only third? Oh, I don't know what to say, but it's a bit disappointing. You know, in the first half of the year, I led Manchester United to the Champions League final and set a new Premier League goal record. That's not bad, is it? Maybe he (Messi) is luckier and more favored than me, as it's not the first time."
Messi, when interviewed, did not respond to Ronaldo's competition and controversial remarks. Instead, he expressed congratulations and admiration for Wang Feng, saying, "Ronaldo is right, he is a legend himself."
The media speculated that Manchester United's early elimination from the Champions League group stage in the new season was the main reason why Ronaldo lost to Messi. Following this trend, he might be surpassed by the Argentinean again next year, unless he leads his team to win the European Championship.
These comments struck a chord with the Portuguese star, who vowed to perform well. If he led his team to win their first European Championship, he believed that he could even surpass Wang Feng and lift the Ballon d'Or!
With eight Ballon d'Or awards in his career, Wang Feng's legend continued to captivate the world.
French newspaper "L'Equipe" commented that the Chinese superstar was undoubtedly the greatest player in history. "If Pelé could win seven Ballon d'Or awards, then Wang Feng has surpassed him."
Before 1995, only European players were eligible for the Ballon d'Or. However, "France Football" magazine conducted a re-evaluation, concluding that Pelé could have won the award seven times, in 1958-1961, 1963-1964, and 1970, while Maradona could have won it in 1986 and 1990.
"Any honor Wang Feng receives in the future will further elevate his historical status. Even though he is already so far ahead, leaving many legendary stars far behind."
"Unfortunately for players of his generation, such as Ronaldinho and Kaka, they have their own characteristics and skills but can only fade away in the shadow of the sun."
"Now Messi and Ronaldo are the same. They should be grateful to have been born later and still have a chance to catch up with Wang Feng's footsteps. However, who knows where the Chinese superstar's limit lies."
German magazine "Kicker" also stated that Wang Feng deservedly holds the title of the greatest player in history, and even elevated this title to an exaggerated level, suggesting that there may never be a successor.
"Such a dominant force can make everyone retreat. From the current situation, his only enemy is time."
But "Kicker" asserted that it would be difficult for time to completely defeat the Chinese superstar, as various data indicate that his peak period still has a long way to go.
The British "BBC" commented that Wang Feng was the "world's greatest player," helping Real Madrid achieve unprecedented success, which was partly mutual but mostly due to Wang Feng's achievements.
"It's incredible for a player to reach such a level. Without Wang Feng, there would be no five consecutive league titles and Champions League titles for the Galacticos."
"With his talent and skills dominating the field, his responsibility and dedication turning the tide, and his unparalleled performance and stats, as long as the Chinese superstar is on the field, he is the unique protagonist!"
Domestic authoritative media also reported on the award news, with headlines like "Wang Feng conquers the world." It was the boldest statement they had ever made, considering their usually cautious wording.
But this statement was not an exaggeration. Wherever there are people in the world, there will be mention of Wang Feng's name, from the poorest tribes in Africa to the football deserts of North America.
"Wang Feng is not just a great football star, but also a representative of the Chinese spirit. More and more foreign people are getting to know China through him, which is very beneficial for eliminating barriers."
"His glory is also the glory of China and even the whole of Asia!"
In addition to media evaluations, many football figures also expressed their views. FIFA President Blatter believed that Wang Feng's eight awards were well-deserved.
"Perhaps some people think it's always him playing solo, but what I want to say is that both the Ballon d'Or and the previous FIFA World Player of the Year awards are authoritative. We can only award the best players."
"If you find it boring, then keep working hard. All players, the trophy is on the mountaintop. When you perform better than Wang, you can naturally touch it."
UEFA President Platini said that Wang Feng was "incredible." He always desired honors and achievements, and it was these desires that made him demand the best from himself, constantly pushing his limits and achieving legendary feats.
"As a perfect footballer, we see pure football from Wang. So, I think other players should look up to him if they want to become even better."
French football legend Zidane said he couldn't wait to work with Wang Feng. After the end of this season, he would resign from his position as coach of Real Madrid Castilla and join Ancelotti's coaching staff.
"From a player's perspective, the Chinese superstar has long surpassed me. His skills are very comprehensive, and his physical fitness is very strong. He can maintain his peak level for a long time, bringing high-quality matches to all fans."
As an award presenter, Ronaldo, in an interview, said: "I have long known about Wang's ability. He helped me fulfill my dream of winning the Serie A championship. In fact, he surpassed me from that time."
"I still vividly remember the first time I saw Wang performing a pendulum dribble from the stands. My God, he will surely do better than me. That was my true feeling at that time."
Benitez, who won the Best Coach award, said that Wang Feng is a phenomenal player from whom he has learned a lot. "Yes, it's not surprising at all. Coaches can bring improvement to players, and players can also promote the progress of coaches."
Regarding the recent controversy with the Chinese superstar, the Spaniard believed it was no big deal, as both sides were striving for the good of the team. He also admitted his poor communication skills, "My assistant criticizes me like this too. He tells me, 'Rafael, express your thoughts.'"
On the second day of the FIFA awards ceremony attended by Wang Feng and other key players, Real Madrid faced Malaga in the fifth round second leg of the Copa del Rey, away from home.
Naturally, they couldn't play in the match, and coach Ancelotti had to field a full backup lineup. However, Malaga, desperate for a comeback, gave the Galacticos a tough time, resulting in a 1-2 defeat for Real Madrid.
Fortunately, Real Madrid had a significant lead from the first leg, so they advanced to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey with a narrow 4-3 aggregate score.
Next, the Galacticos would face Barcelona, who also advanced smoothly, in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals. The meeting of the two Spanish giants ahead of schedule added much excitement to the cup competition, with many media outlets even considering it a preview of the final. Whoever crosses the other is highly likely to win the Copa del Rey this season.
On January 15th, in La Liga's 18th round, Real Madrid hosted Mallorca. Wang Feng, who came on as a substitute, contributed two brilliant assists to help the team overturn a 1-2 deficit and win 2-1.
Three days later, in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, the Galacticos hosted Barcelona at the Bernabeu.
The Catalans clearly valued this honor more. With little hope in the league and uncertain prospects in the Champions League, if they couldn't win the cup, it would be hard to explain to both the club and the fans.
So, after the start of the game, they quickly seized the initiative on the field. In the 29th minute, they broke the deadlock, with Messi's precise through pass finding Neymar, who then entered the penalty area and scored with a low shot past Casillas.
It must be said that the cooperation between the two South American-born stars has become increasingly tacit, and despite multiple setbacks, Neymar has not succumbed to despair but rather significantly improved his technical level.
"Barcelona's performance on the field has been really good lately, and there even seems to be a trend of them suppressing Real Madrid."
"Yes, after the painful defeat at the Camp Nou, they have obviously made a lot of adjustments. To stop Wang Feng's rapid counterattacks, Vilanova deployed two defensive players nearby to assist, and also intensified the offside trap."
"So far, the effect seems good. The other Real Madrid players are in relatively poor form. Even if the Chinese superstar creates space, it's difficult for his teammates to capitalize, and he himself has been caught offside several times."
"On the offensive end, the Messi-Neymar combination is gradually showing its power. Actually, the external criticism of Neymar mainly focuses on his careless and indifferent personality, rather than his technique itself. After all, he is also considered the successor of Brazilian samba football."
"Hey, look at this, Alonso steals the ball from Neymar's pass. This kid is really inconsistent. I just said his technique was good, and immediately he makes a careless mistake."
"Real Madrid on the counterattack! The Spanish midfielder sends a long pass over the top, Wang Feng runs in from behind, his speed is fast, clearly not offside!"
"Beautiful! Pique is no match at all, even falling half a step behind, Wang Feng enters the penalty area with the ball, shoots!! Goal!!"
"A ground-level shot pierces through the legs of goalkeeper Valdés and into Barcelona's goal, 1-1, Real Madrid equalizes!"
"The biggest culprit for Barcelona conceding this goal is Neymar. He was too casual with the ball in midfield and was seized by Alonso. When will the Brazilian mature?"
"Pique also has a big problem. Why didn't he clear the ball early when he ran back to the ball's position? Instead, he turned around to watch Wang Feng, delaying just for a moment, and the Chinese superstar could catch up and poke the ball away."
The first half ended in a draw, and in the second half, both sides continued to struggle. Perhaps considering a draw was more favorable, Barcelona gradually reduced their attacking frequency, controlling the ball more in midfield.
Although Real Madrid wanted to press high, they also had to guard against Messi's penetration. After several close calls, they dared not push forward with full force.
As time went on, in the 84th minute, Ramos intercepted the ball at the back and quickly passed it to Di Maria, who then passed it to Wang Feng. To break the deadlock, the Galacticos had to rely on the Chinese superstar.
We saw him quickly start to sprint towards the frontcourt, near the center line, rapidly change direction to shake off Busquets, face Pique with another dribble, and as the Spanish defender tried to trip him.
Wang Feng staggered a few steps as if he were about to fall, and the referee had already blown the whistle, but he forcefully stabilized himself and chased after the ball again.
Alves and Adriano came to double-team defensively, but the Chinese superstar raced to position, stretched his body, lifted his right foot, and shot like a fully drawn bow.
"Boom!" Northwest, shot like a sky wolf!
The ball swiftly flew towards the left side of the goal, and goalkeeper Valdés's save was noticeably delayed, sneaking past the goal line and hitting the net inside, only falling down after a moment.
"Goooooooooooooooooooal! The ball's in! Wang Feng scores with another long-range shot!"
"A powerful shot from about 35 meters away from the goal, he shot before the Barcelona defense closed in. Everything happened too suddenly."
"2-1! Real Madrid completes the comeback as the game nears its end! Despite being largely out of form and at a disadvantage for almost the entire match, the superstar is just unreasonable."
This score remained until the end of the game, with the Galacticos winning 2-1 at home against Barcelona, leaving the outcome of the tie to the second leg.
On January 23rd, in the 19th round of La Liga, Real Madrid visited Athletic Bilbao.
Wang Feng broke the deadlock in the first half and then assisted Morata to expand the lead, putting the team on the path to victory. Finally, Carvajal scored the third goal, sealing the score at 3-0.
Three days later, on January 26th, the Galacticos visited Camp Nou to face Barcelona, competing for a spot in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
The match was played in heavy rain, and the muddy pitch made it difficult for both sides to play, especially the home team. "Damn it, is the heavens against us?" Vilanova cursed angrily.
However, the situation developed dramatically. In the 29th minute of the first half, Barcelona launched an attack from the flank. Busquets' cross found Messi unmarked in the box, who headed in.
This was a rare headed goal for the Argentine!
But before he could celebrate for long, Wang Feng immediately responded. In the 35th minute, Real Madrid advanced to the frontcourt, and Di Maria passed diagonally into the penalty area.
Wang Feng flicked the ball over the block from Pique's side, then turned around and shrugged off the defender. Before the ball hit the ground, he volleyed with his right foot, equalizing for the Galacticos.
Later, as the rain intensified, neither side could create good opportunities. The match ended in a draw.
With a total aggregate score of 3-2 over two legs, Real Madrid narrowly eliminated Barcelona and advanced to the Copa del Rey semi-finals!
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