Chapter 120: When You Gaze Upon the Crown, Bow Your Head—And Salute the Treble Winners
After tossing Mourinho into the air over and over in celebration, Real Madrid's ecstatic players finally relented—leaving their coach weak in the knees.
As the wild joy and adrenaline began to fade, the players looked around at the familiar faces of the teammates who had fought by their side every step of the way.
There was so much to say—so much to feel—but for a moment, no words were needed.
Leon and Xabi Alonso embraced first.
They were mentor and protégé.
Friends.
Comrades.
Perhaps since leaving Liverpool, Xabi hadn't opened his heart to a teammate like this.
The last man he'd embraced like this was named Steven Gerrard.
In Leon, he saw all the same virtues—an unyielding spirit, a pure heart, and an unwavering commitment to the craft.
He didn't say much. No dramatic gestures like those years past.
This wasn't an underdog victory, and Xabi wasn't a boy anymore.
But his firm pat on Leon's shoulder said it all.
"You've done well. Now go celebrate with the others."
Leon then found Cristiano—or rather, Cristiano had already been waiting for him.
"Little Lion!"
They hugged tightly.
Leon could feel Ronaldo's genuine joy in the sheer force of the embrace.
"I knew you could do it, Cris. I believed in you. We all did—from the start to the end."
No fluff. No empty praise.
If you had to pick one person to name as Real Madrid's MVP this season, it could only be Cristiano Ronaldo.
In La Liga, in the Champions League, in the Copa del Rey—whenever he played, Madrid scored.
Only he and Messi could give their teammates such rock-solid confidence, game after game.
Leon always believed they would finish the season with three trophies.
The team chemistry was flawless.
The defense was solid.
The attack had no weaknesses.
And their coach—brilliant.
Most of all, they had Cristiano Ronaldo.
An apex predator who guaranteed a goal every game.
"Thank you, Little Lion. You're one of my best friends—and one of my best teammates.
I know we'll win more together. I believe that with all my heart."
Cristiano was practically glowing, a talkative, emotional whirlwind.
He was never the type to hide his feelings.
Leon just smiled, listening to his speech like a patient younger brother.
Then Kaká ran over. The three shared handshakes and hugs.
Leon found a reason to slip away, leaving Cristiano and Kaká to enjoy their moment together.
He had somewhere else to be.
He walked toward the Chelsea players, many of whom were still frozen in place—sitting or standing, eyes glassy, hearts broken.
Leon offered his condolences.
Now that the match was over, there was no fear of the media twisting his actions.
After all, even Casillas was consoling Čech, and Mourinho was already walking toward his old protégés.
Leon exchanged jerseys with Drogba, then shyly pulled out a permanent marker he had prepared long ago.
Drogba's heavy heart lifted slightly.
He hadn't expected the rumors to be true—but here was Leon, quietly admitting that he'd been a fan all along.
"To lose to a fan…
Well, that's a bit easier to live with."
The award ceremony was bittersweet for Chelsea.
They didn't linger.
After receiving their silver medals, they left the field quickly—wanting to be anywhere but the stage of their heartbreak.
Meanwhile, over 30,000 Madridistas in the stands roared in celebration.
Leon's earlier promise to the Chinese fans was finally fulfilled.
When it was his turn to lift the trophy, he did so draped in the bright red flag of China—raising the Champions League above his head with pride and purpose.
No one criticized him.
Ramos had just lifted the trophy with the Spanish flag wrapped around his waist.
Cristiano and Pepe with the Portuguese flag.
Marcelo with Brazil's.
For a professional footballer, Champions League finals were rare.
To win one?
It could define a career.
In those moments, the flag wasn't a political statement.
It was a declaration of identity and pride.
He Wei choked up.
Coach Zhang clapped through his tears, mumbling repeatedly:
"Good. Very good."
This moment would go down as one of the most glorious and significant in Chinese sports history.
Leon's triumphant roar, flag on his shoulders, trophy overhead, was captured by every major media outlet present.
While Chinese reporters cried with pride, journalists from Japan and South Korea could only watch with envy.
Korea had Park Ji-sung in 2008, but he didn't play in the final.
Japan had no such moment at all.
Now, Leon had surpassed them all—starting for Madrid, scoring and assisting in the final, and lifting the trophy.
The narrative around Park crumbled.
Back home in China, the internet exploded.
CCTV and other top-level media outlets scrambled to draft headlines and prepare footage.
May 20th would be a day no Chinese fan would ever forget.
Leon and the team flew back to Madrid that same night, trophy in hand.
They didn't sleep—not because they didn't want to, but because the fans wouldn't let them.
Even club president Florentino Pérez kept his congratulations brief, leaving the rest of the night for the players.
There wasn't a full-scale parade yet—but there was plenty of celebration.
At the airport, at the hotel—fans were everywhere.
Madrid's players, starving, devoured a late-night feast.
By 3 or 4 a.m., they finally collapsed into their hotel beds.
The next day and a half were theirs to enjoy—a well-earned break before whatever came next.
But one thing was clear:
They weren't just champions.
They were legendary.
And the world would remember them as the greatest Mourinho-era Madrid.
After tossing Mourinho into the air multiple times, Real Madrid's euphoric players finally let go of their coach, who by then was visibly weak in the knees.
As the fire of celebration gradually settled and excitement gave way to heartfelt emotion, the players turned to the familiar faces of those who had walked this path with them.
There was so much to say, so much to share.
But for now, no words were needed.
Leon and Xabi Alonso were the first to embrace.
They were mentor and student.
Friends.
Brothers in arms.
Perhaps, since leaving Liverpool, it was the first time Xabi had opened his heart like this to a teammate.
The last person who made him feel this way was a man named Steven Gerrard.
But now, from mindset to professionalism to character, Leon had earned that place in Xabi's heart.
There were no emotional kisses like with Gerrard back then—Xabi wasn't a kid anymore, and this wasn't an underdog victory.
Madrid had been the stronger side, and this win was no miracle—it was well-earned.
He gave Leon one last firm slap on the back, then sent him off to celebrate with the others.
No need for too many words between them.
Their bond was understood through shared glances and quiet gestures.
Leon's next stop was Cristiano Ronaldo.
Or rather, Cristiano had been waiting for him.
"Little Lion!"
The two collided in a bear hug, and Leon could feel Ronaldo's joy radiating through his grip.
"I believed in you, Cris. We all did. From the very beginning, we trusted you."
Leon wasn't just saying it for show.
If there was a single player to crown as Real Madrid's key figure this season, it had to be Cristiano Ronaldo.
League, Champions League, Copa del Rey—as long as he played, Madrid scored.
Across the globe, only two players—Ronaldo and Messi—gave their teams such a reliable offensive anchor.
From the start, Leon believed Madrid could win all three trophies.
Because they had team chemistry, solid defense, flawless attack, and a brilliant coaching staff.
Most importantly, they had Cristiano—who could carry the team through any storm.
"Thank you, Little Lion.
You're one of my best friends, and one of my best teammates.
I know—we'll win more together. I believe it with all my heart."
Cristiano, never one to hide his emotions, was rambling like an excited kid.
That was his nature.
When he liked someone, he meant it.
When he was happy, he showed it.
Leon smiled, listening patiently.
Eventually, Kaká joined them.
A handshake. An embrace.
Leon slipped away, leaving Cristiano and Kaká to bask in their shared joy.
He had another task—to console the defeated.
He approached the Chelsea players still on the pitch—some standing, some frozen, some sitting in quiet heartbreak.
Leon offered his condolences.
Now that the match was over, no one would twist his gesture in the media.
Casillas was already comforting Čech.
Mourinho had walked toward his former players.
Leon exchanged jerseys with Drogba, then sheepishly pulled out a marker he had stashed in his sock.
Drogba blinked—then laughed bitterly.
He hadn't expected the rumor to be true, but here was Leon, asking for an autograph.
"To lose to a fan…
I guess that's not so bad."
For Chelsea, the award ceremony was short and bitter.
They collected their silver medals and left the pitch quickly—escaping the place where their dreams had shattered.
Meanwhile, the 30,000 Madridistas in the stands were just getting started.
As the players raised the trophy on the stage, Leon fulfilled the "mystery" he had promised Chinese fans during his pre-final interview.
When it was his turn to lift the cup, he did so draped in the bright red Chinese flag, raising the Champions League trophy high above his head with pride and confidence.
No one criticized him.
Ramos had done the same with Spain's flag.
Cristiano and Pepe with Portugal's.
Marcelo with Brazil's.
For any professional footballer, playing in a Champions League final was rare.
Winning it? That could define a career.
To carry your national flag in that moment was nothing but pride.
He Wei choked up.
Coach Zhang clapped through tears, whispering again and again:
"Good. So good."
This was one of the greatest moments in Chinese sports history.
One of the most unforgettable nights.
The photo of Leon lifting the trophy with the Chinese flag exploded across social media.
Chinese reporters wept.
Japanese and Korean journalists could only sigh.
Korea had Park Ji-sung in 2008, sure—but he didn't play in the final.
Japan? No one.
Now Leon had not only played, but scored and assisted in the final—and won.
Any pride South Korea had clung to was shattered.
In China, the internet went nuclear.
CCTV and national outlets scrambled to write headlines and release coverage.
May 20th would be etched in Chinese sporting history.
Back in Madrid, the team flew home with the trophy.
They didn't sleep.
The fans wouldn't let them.
Even Florentino Pérez kept his congratulations short, giving the night to the players.
There was no official parade yet, but the spontaneous celebrations were just as wild.
Madrid's players mingled with fans at the airport, partied through the early hours, and collapsed into hotel beds around 4 a.m.
They'd earned it.
The next day and a half was theirs.
After that? One more task remained.
The Copa del Rey final—against Barcelona.
If this had been the era of Eto'o and Henry, even with Leon sticking to Messi like glue, Barcelona could still have created danger up front.
Because Eto'o and Henry could finish. They could make the most of the chances Messi created.
Now? Messi's partners were Alexis Sánchez and Pedro.
Not bad players by any means, but when compared to the two legends…
They simply weren't on the same level.
Messi had to do it all—create and finish.
He was carrying too much of the offensive load alone.
To his credit, he still performed well.
But the moment Leon locked him down, Barcelona's greatest threat fell silent.
Guardiola had realized this problem, but honestly, there just weren't many forwards on the market who fit the Barça system.
Ironically, Benzema might've been a perfect fit.
He could lead the line, draw defenders, had great technical ability, and had already scored 18 league goals that season. Still young.
But Real Madrid had snapped him up early.
And among the few young, talented strikers left, none of them impressed Guardiola enough to justify a signing.
Don't bring up Luis Suárez—he had just completed a modest season at Liverpool with 11 league goals.
Not exactly the stuff of legends yet.
Agüero? Already a star at Manchester City, backed by bottomless oil wealth.
Barça couldn't afford him, and even if they bid, City would counter with a ludicrous offer for Messi himself.
Guardiola was stuck.
With no suitable reinforcements, he didn't even touch the winter transfer window.
Now, facing Mourinho's Real Madrid in another tactical chess match, Guardiola had no choice but to trust Messi.
Barça's players had to believe in Messi, just as Madrid's players believed in Cristiano.
Unfortunately, neither superstar was at their best today.
In the first half, Ronaldo only managed three shots—just one on target.
Some of that was on him. But a lot of it came down to Barcelona's well-executed defensive plan.
On the other side, Leon's unrelenting tracking meant Messi never got the space to pick apart Madrid's defense.
The first half was flashy on the surface, but neither side created a single clear-cut chance.
The defenders were the real winners.
Barcelona didn't take risks. They played a clean four-man back line.
Piqué and Abidal held firm, finally holding up against Madrid's constant crosses.
Madrid's setup was even sturdier.
Leon's tactical sacrifice, paired with Alonso and Essien's double pivot, gave Barcelona's midfielders hell.
Any attempt to break free took serious effort—and often didn't work.
After a scoreless first half, both teams came out for the second with more intent.
Madrid had conserved energy and were ready to go full throttle.
Barcelona wanted to strike first.
They had the stamina to play extra time, but they really didn't want to.
And penalties?
Guardiola hadn't even considered them.
Neither had Mourinho, for that matter.
Madrid's game plan had always been focused on the second half.
After failing to dominate early possession, Madrid settled into their usual plan—counterattack.
Busquets, slower now, became a liability Madrid could target.
Still, Adriano and Alves had cut off Madrid's early counters a few times.
Guardiola had learned his lesson.
Rather than overload the flanks like before, he pulled back the fullbacks to protect his defense.
Alves barely made a run forward.
The burden on Messi's shoulders grew heavier still.
Even Mourinho was surprised—this was the most conservative version of Guardiola he'd ever seen.
Neither side wanted to take the first big risk.
Time ticked down.
Strangely, Leon wasn't as exhausted as usual by the 90th minute.
But he didn't give himself too much credit—Messi's average form had helped.
Even when Messi surged forward early in the second half, a wild shot from Pedro after a great pass made him visibly deflate.
Leon could see it.
When extra time began, it was clear—Barcelona were running out of belief.
Despite their stamina, they were just as sluggish as Madrid.
Maybe it was the ghost of the Chelsea loss still haunting them.
Maybe it was watching Madrid lift the two most important trophies this season.
But whatever it was, Barça looked shaken.
Madrid sensed it.
Even if it came down to penalties, they were prepared.
During the extra-time hydration break, Mourinho and Karanka began prepping the players.
Madrid had rehearsed penalties countless times.
They weren't nervous.
They didn't know if Barça had prepared—but at this point, it didn't matter.
If neither team could break the deadlock, they'd fight it out from the spot.
The fans?
On edge.
Time inched forward.
Near the end, Cristiano rose high for a Kaká cross.
At the other end, Messi sliced through the defense and fired a curling shot past Leon.
Both were parried by outstanding saves.
The goalkeepers stood tall.
And finally—the whistle blew.
Extra time was over.
The Copa del Rey final would be decided by penalties.
At that moment, as the referee blew his whistle signaling the start of penalties, every commentator, every fan, every player around the world felt it—the weight of destiny.
The most brutal form of football's judgment was here.
A penalty shootout.
The Champions League final would be decided from twelve yards.
On the sidelines, both coaches began their final arrangements.
Willing or not, they had no choice now.
The outcome rested entirely in the hands—and feet—of their players.
On Madrid's side, there was a brief stir—quickly quelled, but the cameras caught it.
Just enough to pique curiosity.
Meanwhile, Barça's Puyol, subbed on late in extra time, won the coin toss.
Without hesitation, the legendary captain chose the end of the stadium packed with Barcelona fans.
Casillas, cool as ever, selected for Madrid to shoot first.
The confidence in his eyes made Puyol feel a twinge of unease.
Then came the moment that shocked everyone.
As Víctor Valdés jogged to the goal line to warm up, Leon stepped forward with the ball.
Not Cristiano.
Not Kaká.
Not Ramos.
Leon would take Madrid's first penalty.
This wasn't a whim—it was his request.
Originally slotted to go fourth—between Ramos and Ronaldo—Leon had demanded the first kick.
His months of training, his mental fortitude under pressure, had earned the full trust of both his teammates and Mourinho.
Now, by stepping up first, he won something more—universal respect.
No cowards at twelve yards.
But the man who volunteers to take the first shot?
He has a heart of steel.
Leon stood there, casually spinning the ball in his hands.
Smiling. Confident.
An image that Real Madrid fans would remember for decades.
In the booth, Xu Yang's voice trembled.
He Wei held the moment steady:
"Leon sets the ball down—no theatrics.
Calmly adjusts his steps.
Eyes fixed on Valdés, who's dancing on the line.
Leon's face—serene.
The whistle blows!
Leon steps up… shoots!!!
WAAAH!!!
IT'S IN! IT'S IN!!!"
"A rocket into the top right corner! Valdés guessed wrong!
But even if he guessed right, he wouldn't have stopped that strike!
What a clean, confident finish! Leon gives Madrid the perfect start!"
Back in China, it was past 6 a.m.—but fans across the country were on their feet, screaming.
Leon slammed his fist against his chest, roaring.
He turned to his teammates—not for celebration, but for solidarity.
His gaze told them:
Believe. Trust. Follow.
Madrid's end erupted.
Barça's bench… looked shaken.
Messi stepped up next—and this time, he didn't choke.
A laser down the middle.
He fooled Casillas and brought Barça level.
Then came Kaká—no hesitation, buried it.
Benzema followed—perfect finish.
Madrid's confidence soared.
And that confidence affected the other side.
Iniesta was next.
He struck low to the left.
Casillas dove the right way but couldn't reach it.
He slapped the turf in frustration—but his eyes now burned with renewed fire.
Sánchez came third.
No expression on his face.
He went the opposite of Iniesta—right side, low roller.
Casillas was ready.
He guessed it.
Saved it.
Madrid fans exploded.
The momentum swung.
Madrid were now 4-2 up.
Ramos came next.
Valdés danced again.
Ramos didn't flinch—straight down the middle.
Valdés guessed left.
4-2.
Xavi followed for Barça and pulled one back.
4-3.
But hope was fading.
Because now came Cristiano Ronaldo.
Leon and the others said nothing.
No cheers.
No chants.
Just silence.
Let him focus.
Cristiano set the ball, looked at Valdés—now quiet, serious.
Whistle.
Run-up.
Strike.
The ball soared to the top left corner—the opposite of Leon's opener.
Valdés guessed correctly this time.
Too late. Too slow.
The net bulged.
Madrid fans exploded.
"Aaaaahhh! TREBLE WINNERS!
WE ARE TREBLE WINNERS!!!"
Marcelo was the first to bolt—leaping into the air.
The rest followed—sprinting to Cristiano.
Just before they reached him, they all dove together—the bomber-plane celebration.
Cameras flashed.
The stadium shook.
It was Leon's idea—one last collective celebration to mark this historic season.
Treble winners.
It was official.
Mourinho pumped his fists, then turned toward the Barça end.
They were silent.
In his mind, he whispered:
"When you gaze upon this crown… bow your head."
"And salute the treble-winning Real Madrid."
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