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"First, I'd like to thank all the fans who support me, and thank the fans back home for their attention."
"I'd like to thank the team behind me for their silent dedication."
"I'd like to thank the management and coaching staff of Atlético Madrid, as well as my brothers fighting on the field. Everyone played a part in the sextuple we achieved this past year."
"I'd like to thank my brothers on the Belgium team. We won the European Championship together, and I hope we can charge for the World Cup trophy together next year."
"Most of all, I want to thank my parents. They've supported my football dream since I was a child, allowing me to get to where I am today."
"I want to say that the Ballon d'Or is not my end point, and the sextuple is not my end point either. My story, my adventure, has only just begun!!"
"Ahhhhh!"
On the television, Lance was in high spirits, lifting the Ballon d'Or trophy under a shower of golden confetti, smiling brilliantly.
Thunderous applause filled the award ceremony venue, which was bustling with excitement.
"God Lance is so handsome!"
"It's a pity I didn't see his matches when he was in Germany."
"Yeah, by the time I heard of God Lance, he had already gone to Spain."
"I've been watching God Lance's matches from the beginning. Unfortunately, I was still back home then and hadn't come here to study abroad yet."
"Boss lady, another bowl of rice, please!"
A Chinese restaurant in Munich.
Local international students and Chinese residents packed the restaurant to the brim, with many customers still waiting in the queue outside.
The restaurant owner originally didn't need to do much work, but with so many people every day, the waiters couldn't keep up, so Lu Yongping was in charge of supervising the kitchen, while Zhao Ping, who handled the accounts, had to step in as a waitress to help serve the food.
Carrying plates and pouring water, she was so tired her back ached.
But Zhao Ping didn't feel the slightest bit of exhaustion from overwork; instead, she was glowing with energy.
Just hearing everyone praise her child made her heart swell with joy.
The Ballon d'Or ceremony on TV had actually taken place last night, but Germany's Sport1 channel was still broadcasting reruns.
These Bundesliga football program workers had always regarded Lance as one of their own; after all, he was an international superstar who had emerged from the Bundesliga.
Outside Bayer Leverkusen's home stadium, Lance's bronze statue had also been completed, standing quietly in the plaza and becoming a top destination for fans and tourists to take photos.
"Boss lady, Lance won the Ballon d'Or, aren't you going to treat us?"
Seeing the boss lady was in a good mood, one student couldn't help but joke.
To his surprise, Zhao Ping didn't fall for it at all.
"We're already running a promotion. If you post a celebration of Lance's Ballon d'Or on social media and tag the restaurant, you get one entry into a lucky draw."
"There really is one!"
A few students excitedly entered the draw.
The results were all 20% off coupons, ice cream vouchers, or 10-yuan discount coupons, which could be used on their next visit.
This would drive another wave of revenue for the restaurant.
Anyway, the restaurant's food was delicious and affordable; the students working hard in Germany treated this place entirely like their canteen, so they didn't lose out at all.
Besides, this was God Lance's family business, so it was like supporting God Lance!
...
Lance felt that winning the Ballon d'Or was almost the same as not winning it.
It didn't affect his matches or life in the slightest, except for more media interviews and invitations.
Anyway, for those complicated external matters, he had a team to help him filter and organize them, and the workaholic Hanna Müller to handle public relations for him.
Lance only needed to focus on playing well.
The Ballon d'Or trophy just sat quietly on a shelf in his Madrid mansion, providing no bonus to his matches.
Not only was there no bonus, but it had instead become a way to attract hostility.
Opponents' defense against him was becoming increasingly rough, with their tackles getting more aggressive.
Among the items from a recent 1,600 Silver Coins ten-pull, there were only five **[Substitute Paper Figurine]**s, and two had already been used in the blink of an eye, preventing two serious injuries.
February, March...
Time flew by.
Subjectively, the League and Champions League matches that Lance used to value most now suddenly felt somewhat ordinary.
Atlético Madrid went on a five-game winning streak in La Liga, gradually climbing from 8th place to 3rd, trailing only Real Madrid and Barcelona.
But Atlético Madrid's points were still at least 14 points behind Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Winning the title this season was completely out of the question.
They could only try to put in some effort in the Champions League.
In the 2016-2017 Champions League season, Atlético Madrid eventually finished the group stage with 10 points, advancing as the group runner-up.
Bayern Munich had snatched the top spot in the group.
Lance had been out with an injury at the time and made zero appearances in the group stage.
He didn't fully recover until just before the knockout stage.
Their opponent in the Round of 16 was the winner of Group B, last season's Serie A runner-up, Napoli.
In the first leg, Lance started the match.
He played as the lone striker up front.
"This ball!! Koke's long pass!!"
"Lance! Beautiful!!!"
"A perfect trap, he's past his man!! He shoots directly!!"
"Beautiful!! The goal is in!!! God Lance himself!! His first goal in the Champions League this season!!"
"Having just won the Ballon d'Or, Lance already possesses the demeanor of a master! You can't tell at all that he's only a 19-year-old youth!"
Jian Jun was incredibly excited about Lance's goal, with all sorts of praise pouring out of him.
The [Nagi Seishiro]Muscle Memory was the asset Lance had been most proud of since his debut.
He was now well-versed in it, and it was gradually merging with his own abilities.
Trapping the ball in the penalty area and getting past his marker without letting the ball touch the ground, he flicked it over a defender and scored with a volley.
Smooth as flowing water!
It was clearly the level of a Ballon d'Or winner!
Ultimately, thanks to Lance's performance, Atlético Madrid defeated Napoli 1-0 at home, getting off to a winning start in the Champions League knockout stage.
The second leg would take place at Napoli's home ground.
They would have to continue relying on Lance's performance.
Ángel Correa, Gameiro, and Gaitán, the forward trio, found it nearly impossible to break through Napoli's defense.
Koke in the midfield could only help by providing service to Lance.
His defensive midfield partner Gabi had suffered a major injury and was out for the season, while Godín's injury was also recurring.
Atlético Madrid's squad was riddled with injuries this season, so Koke simply didn't have the energy to push forward and attack.
The offense had to rely solely on Lance.
"This ball, Gaitán breaks through on the left... a cut-back pass!!"
"Lance!!! A heel nutmeg turn!!!"
"He takes the shot directly!!!"
"A worldie!!! A worldie from the edge of the box!!"
"Breaking the deadlock!!!"
During the broadcast of the second leg, CCTV5 commentator Duan Xuan was equally excited.
It was clear that Atlético Madrid was missing many key players and was struggling.
Playing at home, Napoli at one point left Atlético Madrid with no room to breathe.
Fortunately, Lance played his role as a superstar, settling the battle single-handedly!
At the end of 90 minutes, Atlético Madrid eliminated Napoli with a total score of 2-0 over two legs, thanks to Lance's two goals!
"That's right, I'm back, back on the Champions League stage."
"As the defending champion, I hope to break the defending curse of the Champions League since its restructuring and lead us to become the first team to successfully defend the title."
"Although Atlético Madrid has lost many people, I am still here! Fans, please believe in me!!"
In the post-match interview for Atlético Madrid vs. Napoli, Lance's words made the Atlético Madrid fans' blood boil with excitement!!
This was God Lance!
They believed that as long as Lance was there, Atlético Madrid would surely smash through all obstacles and charge into the final Champions League final!
It was just that people didn't realize at the time, that life is full of surprises.
And these surprises often happen when one is least prepared.