He didn't even seem to exist in that game!
Just like Kai's shot seemed to hit nothing but air before bouncing into the goal.
As the most crucial part of the play, Cristiano Ronaldo had been completely forgotten in discussions around the world.
That moment made Ronaldo start doubting himself.
Did Kai's shot actually kill him, leaving him as some kind of invisible soul that no one could notice?
An even more terrifying thought crossed Ronaldo's mind. He remembered a story Kai once told him: when everyone forgets your existence, even if you're still alive, you're basically no different from being gone!
"So I don't exist? So I… killed myself? I, Ronaldo, didn't even get to enjoy being a Portuguese champion, and now I'm just… lifeless?" Ronaldo sat slumped in a pile of newspapers, hands clasped together, preparing to smack his forehead.
"This…" Kai interrupted his spiral, "this might actually be my fault."
Cristiano Ronaldo shook his head. "It's fine. Scoring goals is what matters most. Even if it hurts, even if I risk getting injured—if I had to do it again, I'd still let you blast a ball into my head. You did the right thing, Kai. Don't feel guilty!"
Seeing how rational Ronaldo was being, Kai decided not to continue.
What he had actually wanted to say was… it was his fault—because he got so damn excited after scoring that he led the entire team straight past Ronaldo and sprinted to the corner flag to celebrate.
That's why Ronaldo didn't appear in almost any of the photos of that goal.
Because while everyone else was celebrating like maniacs, Ronaldo was still lying in the opponent's penalty area.
To be fair, Rio Ave's players didn't take the chance to kick Cristiano Ronaldo while he was down. That alone showed some serious sportsmanship.
Of course, Kai had to admit—when he ran past Ronaldo lying on the ground, he had a brief internal struggle.
A little angel and a little devil were arguing inside his head.
The little devil said: Leave him. He's built like a tank, he'll be fine. Celebrate first, check on him later.
The little angel nodded enthusiastically: "Yes, yes, that makes sense!"
Ronaldo: ???
You call that an argument?
But since Ronaldo wasn't making a big deal out of it, Kai kept his mouth shut.
Not because he was afraid Ronaldo would beat him up. Definitely not that.
…
"Ding! You have won the match. Performance rating: SSS!"
"Ding! You have earned the team honor of Portuguese League Champion, and individual honors including Portuguese League Best Player, Best Midfielder, Assist King, and Team of the Season!"
"Rewards obtained: Super Training Stack ×50, Donglong Special Drink ×40, White Medicine OK Stretch ×15, Blue Skill ×1, Purple Skill ×1, Tactical Slot ×1, Star Drop ×1!"
"Blue Player Skill: Invisible Presence on the Field — Some players can disappear in plain sight. When you move around the pitch casually, your presence is significantly reduced, making it harder for defenders to notice and mark you."
"Purple Star Skill: Midfield Core — Some players naturally become the center of attention. When you run, your presence is greatly enhanced, making it easier for teammates to find you. Passing efficiency with nearby teammates improves, and long-distance passing improves significantly."
Damn!
The system had finally stopped acting like a cheap mobile game.
Instead of handing out useless fragments, it was giving full rewards now.
And these two skills actually complemented each other.
That meant whether Kai was walking or running, he'd always gain some kind of advantage.
"Invisible Presence" was basically a master skill for sneaky plays.
And "Midfield Core" didn't just boost Kai—it elevated his teammates too, which was rare.
Even if his teammates were mediocre, this skill's actual impact wouldn't be any weaker than a top-tier purple ability.
The dropped star was interesting. Kai hadn't noticed anything during the match, but since it dropped, it must have happened at some moment.
And probably during something explosive.
"Van Gaal's Tactical Whiteboard: The famous Dutch coach has 'Total Football' in his blood, but has stubbornly stuck to his 'big circle' tactics for twenty years without innovation. Occupies one tactical slot. Defensive Movement +2, Interception +1, Steal +1, Block +1, Clearance +1, Short Pass +1. Through training, you and your teammates can quickly adapt to U-shaped passing in the backcourt, wing penetration, small combinations, and defensive blocking."
Uh…
Well…
For a moment, Kai couldn't tell if this was praise or straight-up mockery.
Speaking of Louis van Gaal, his coaching career wasn't always smooth.
But he was excellent at developing young players—many future superstars got their first real chances under him.
Fans even jokingly called him "Chef Van," because he loved buying players at high prices, like that clueless chef in the comedy skit who keeps leveling up his mistakes every year.
This so-called "big circle tactic" sounded like a system, but honestly—it barely qualified as one.
In simple terms:
Center-back passes to left-back → left-back to left midfielder → left midfielder to left winger.
Left winger gets the ball, looks up… no space ahead.
The defender's blocking the path.
Dribbling is risky, and the coach said don't take risks.
So the winger passes back.
Left midfielder → left-back → center-back → right-back → right midfielder → right winger…
Repeat.
From a distance, the ball just travels in a giant U-shape.
What are the characteristics?
No central penetration. No through balls. No aggressive movement inside.
Everything happens on the wings.
The ball goes back and forth endlessly, with almost no real attacking threat.
Once you see that, the pros and cons are obvious.
Advantage one: even without a top midfielder, you can maintain high possession.
Advantage two: controlling the ball reduces the opponent's attacking chances—good for defense.
Advantage three: using width helps resist pressing—also good for defense.
Teams using this system rarely get blown out.
But the disadvantages?
First: if you do have a top midfielder, he becomes useless.
Second: explosive wingers lose their impact.
Third: the defensive line handles too many passes. It becomes the base of the "U." If that base breaks—game over.
To prevent that, defenders stay deep, which creates a gap between midfield and defense.
That gap becomes a playground for opponents.
Even weaker teams can dominate that space.
If defenders push up, they risk being exposed.
If they don't, they just watch opponents receive the ball freely.
It heavily tests defensive coordination, positioning, and speed.
Of course, the "big circle tactic" is just a base.
There's room for adjustments.
For example:
To fix the midfield gap, add a fast, technical midfielder who can carry the ball forward.
Or use a forward who can drop deep and act as a pivot, linking midfield and attack.
Or give wingers more freedom, sacrificing possession to let them attack aggressively.
You could even go full chaos mode and launch both wings like frisbees.
Or…
Forget it.
There's no perfect tactic—only the most suitable one.
The more tactical options you have, the better.
And a player's ability to adapt to different systems?
That's a true measure of skill.
The more systems you can fit into, the higher your baseline becomes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can visit my Patreon page:
Patreon.com/PhoeniXcel
I upload 2 chapters daily on Patreon!
There are 230+ advanced chapters available for you to read.
Your support would be greatly appreciated.
📢 Check out my new Naruto fanfic!
[Marvel: Living the Laid-Back Life]