From Arsenal to the Ball God

Chapter 449 - 123: The Second Major Award of the Year! The Grand Slam Continues! Proud of Ma’el [Proud of Ma’el]

"He is very ambitious." In the front row, Blatter spoke to the guest Shakira beside him, "Really?"

"It’s obvious."

Shakira was wearing a fiery red one-piece dress today, her gaze fixed on Ma’el’s back, momentarily lost in thought, "And he’s not only very talented, but also very charming."

"Haha." Blatter laughed a couple of times, couldn’t help but tease, "Compared to Pique?"

Shakira also laughed, her eyes still on Ma’el, without turning her head.

This action was quickly noticed by Pique, whose eyes flashed with hints of jealousy, his brows furrowing tightly.

"Who do you think should win the award?"

On the other side, Iniesta was chatting with Javi, "I think this goal is really beyond discussion."

"That’s right," Javi nodded, clapping his hands and turning sideways, "He said he wants to win all the awards, is it the Grand Slam or including individual awards?"

"It should be all."

Iniesta chuckled, analyzing, "Didn’t he say he’s already won two special awards? By ’special’, I guess he means one with age restrictions and another with various luck factors."

"Excluding those two awards, the rest can be contended for anytime, as long as he’s strong enough."

Javi also laughed merrily, his clapping didn’t stop, "Looks like he’s seriously thought about this, but that’s too difficult. With all kinds of awards being so eclectic, how can he win them all?"

Iniesta shook his head, pursing his lips, "If that day comes, I might even use a cane to congratulate him."

Beside them, Rooney and Ferguson sat together, the master-disciple duo’s expressions slightly unsightly.

"I think it’s yours." Ferguson, noticing the camera wasn’t pointed their way, patted Rooney’s shoulder comfortingly, "Try again next year."

As soon as he said that, he heard Mendes’s voice from the back row, "Oh ho! Finally some success, this award must go to him! So happy for him, later I should call Puma, see if they’ll give extra bonuses."

"Haha..... Three years since the Puskás Award’s inception, my players have won it twice!"

He seemed to have had a bit to drink, excitedly bragging to those beside him, forgetting entirely who sat ahead.

...

London, inside a suit shop.

"...Puskás Award is....!"

Isabella and Aisha linked arms, watching the screen as Ma’el’s suave face appeared, their hands progressively tightened until the other’s nails painfully poked without response.

They were waiting for the final announcement, each harboring different expectations.

No need to say for Isabella, as long as Ma’el was happy, she would be happy too.

Regarding Aisha, she certainly hoped someone would wear a suit from her shop and stand on an important award podium.

Before this, she actually didn’t know the person her sister kept mentioning truly had a chance at winning, only learning at the awards ceremony’s midway when Isabella told her.

Aisha had just been complaining to Isabella, saying had she known earlier, she would’ve said something sooner as the shop was a family-run business.

If her family knew someone potentially standing at the heart of the awards wanted a custom suit, they’d all eagerly come together to make formal wear for him, taking pride in it.

But now it’s fine, if Ma’el could win, she could take credit alone, and leave a commemorative mark on the shop wall.

"Ma’el!"

Sanchez on TV gleefully announced Ma’el’s name, as Ma’el’s face in the bottom-left corner instantly broke into a smile, then stood up.

"Ah.....!"

A piercing scream erupted from here, the two of them jumping up and down, screaming without caring about appearances, hands clapping continuously.

The broadcast camera showed Ma’el steadily walking to the award stage center, this time with a much more natural stride fully showcasing his handsome demeanor.

"Ma’el!"

Isabella was at her emotional peak, jumping around excitedly like she did before celebrating his goals, "So cool!"

"Isabella!" Aisha came over, face excited yet stern, grabbing her hand, "When he returns, you must bring him to meet me, I want a photo with him!"

"I want that photo hung at the store’s center, showcasing that a star wore my family’s clothes to the award platform.

"I can even pay him some ad money, please make sure to help me contact him!"

"Huh." Isabella raised her chin, joking with her good friend, "Last time at your place, weren’t you still cranky from sleeping, dragging your feet being difficult? Being a diva?"

"Aiya." Aisha shyly stood by her side, shaking her hand, "Just help me out, at least I helped you once."

"Alright, alright."

Isabella’s lips slightly parted, a sweet smile, "I’ll tell him, see if he agrees."

...

"...Ma’el!"

Inside Sheffield United’s training base meeting room, the broadcast camera’s Sanchez announced this year’s Puskás Award best goal.

"Oh....!"

Jorson and Gilbert instantly clasped hands and rose, like athletes winning at the Olympic ceremonies.

They then turned towards each other, hugging tightly, patting each other’s backs.

As people leaving Korni Base in the same car, their relationship, especially with Ma’el, was naturally different from the others.

"I always said he could do it!"

Gilbert was very excited, almost knocking Jorson down: "If only that goal was scored against another team, we could celebrate more freely."

"Isn’t this still wild enough?" Jorson said, pulling away with a laugh, "Seeing him at such an important moment, we’re not even thinking about it being against Sheffield United."

He can be seen as the most nostalgic, initially spotting Ma’el at the youth camp when his skill primarily was long shots. He put all his courage into signing him to Sheffield United.

Unexpectedly leading to a successful signing, and surprisingly, a year later, he became a top player.

"Haha....!"

Behind them, Janu and Evans also stood up, along with Luton and Robert who visited today, all standing applauding, faces excited.

"Awesome!"

Evans was no longer slow, speaking first: "He is the first I’ve met to win a major award, could very well be the only one!"

"Me too." Janu nodded, wrapping an arm around Luton, "What about you?"

"Isn’t it obvious?" Luton chuckled, stating their current status, "For players of our level, to know future giant stars winning major honors, we can only meet them during their youth.

"All these years, how many young players we’ve encountered can be called geniuses? So he is most likely the only one."

Before them, Garrispeed’s tremors got heavier, akin to shivering from extreme cold, though everyone understood, same as before, it was a natural bodily response to intense excitement.

"Glug glug glug..." Garrispeed suddenly gulped more alcohol, then stood up, waving excitedly, "He’s our pride, always will be!"

On this day, everyone in this room took pride in Ma’el!

...

Still not quite finished writing, approaching the next Chapter, also making a connection for tomorrow’s over twenty-thousand words.

Writing about award ceremonies is tough, moving forward with the match schedule, won’t update late or less by one or two thousand, the monthly count won’t be less. Monthly update 315,000.