The 2025/26 La Liga season had reached its final day.
One match remained.
Real Betis vs Atlético Madrid.
The stadium was packed hours before kick-off. Green-and-white flags covered the stands, while the Atlético supporters filled their section with red and white.
For Real Betis, it was the final match of the season.
For Devin and Max, it felt different.
They knew something bigger was waiting for them.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup.
But before England, before the World Cup, before everything else...
There was Atlético Madrid.
---
BETIS DRESSING ROOM
Devin sat quietly in front of his locker, putting on his boots.
Max was beside him.
"Crazy, isn't it?" Max said.
Devin looked over.
"What?"
"Last game of the season."
Devin smiled.
"Feels like yesterday we were fighting for our first win."
Max laughed.
"And now look at us."
Devin looked around the dressing room.
The shirts.
The boots.
The Betis badge.
Everything they had experienced that season came rushing back.
Then the manager walked in.
"Listen up!"
The room went silent.
"This is our final game. Give these supporters something they'll remember."
Devin stood.
Max stood beside him.
They looked at each other.
No words were needed.
They were ready.
---
00'
The referee blew the whistle.
REAL BETIS 0–0 ATLÉTICO MADRID
Atlético started aggressively.
They pressed high, trying to stop Betis from building from the back.
But Betis remained calm.
The ball eventually reached Max.
He looked up.
Devin was already making his run.
Max played the pass.
Devin took it in stride.
One defender came across.
Devin cut inside.
The defender lunged.
Devin skipped past him.
The crowd rose.
"DEVIN!"
He carried the ball toward the box.
Another defender stepped up.
Devin suddenly stopped and passed back to Max.
Max struck it first time.
BOOM!
The goalkeeper pushed it away.
So close.
Devin looked at Max and smiled.
"Next one."
---
18'
Atlético won a corner.
The ball was whipped into the box.
Betis failed to clear it.
An Atlético midfielder got his head to it.
GOAL.
Real Betis 0–1 Atlético Madrid.
The stadium went quiet.
Devin stood in the centre circle.
Max walked over.
"We've got this."
Devin nodded.
"I know."
He looked toward the Atlético players.
"Let's make them regret scoring."
---
36'
Betis began dominating possession.
Max received the ball on the right.
He beat one player.
Then another.
He looked toward the box.
Devin was surrounded by defenders.
Max crossed anyway.
The ball flew over everyone.
Devin had anticipated it.
He jumped.
HEADER!
The goalkeeper got a hand to it.
The ball bounced off the post.
Devin couldn't believe it.
"HOW?!"
The crowd screamed.
The ball fell back into the box.
Max was there.
He smashed it.
GOAL!
1–1.
Max sprinted toward the corner.
Devin followed.
The two celebrated together.
---
HALF-TIME
The score remained 1–1.
Inside the dressing room, everyone was exhausted.
The manager looked at Devin and Max.
"You two are deciding this game."
Devin nodded.
Max tightened his boots.
"We're not losing."
---
67'
Atlético had begun to struggle.
Betis were controlling the game.
Devin dropped deeper to collect the ball.
He turned.
There was space.
He accelerated.
One player.
Gone.
Second player.
Gone.
Third player.
Devin knocked the ball through his legs.
The stadium erupted.
He was now approaching the box.
Max was running alongside him.
Devin looked at him.
Max pointed forward.
"Go!"
Devin kept going.
He reached the edge of the box.
The goalkeeper stepped forward.
Devin shaped as if he was going to shoot.
The goalkeeper moved.
Devin instead slipped the ball across the box.
Max arrived.
FIRST TIME.
GOAL!
2–1 REAL BETIS!
The stadium exploded.
Max ran straight toward Devin.
The two jumped together.
Betis had completed the comeback.
---
90+4'
Atlético threw everything forward.
One final attack.
A cross.
A header.
Saved.
The rebound fell to another Atlético player.
He shot.
Blocked.
The referee looked at his watch.
WHISTLE.
REAL BETIS 2–1 ATLÉTICO MADRID.
Betis had won.
Devin dropped to his knees.
Max fell beside him.
The supporters were singing.
The entire stadium was celebrating.
It was the perfect ending.
---
The celebrations continued for days.
But while Devin was enjoying his break, his agent arrived with a different kind of news.
"Devin."
Devin looked up.
"What?"
"Your phone."
His agent placed it on the table.
There were messages from some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Real Madrid.
Manchester City.
Paris Saint-Germain.
Bayern Munich.
Huge contracts.
Huge transfer fees.
The kind of offers that could change his life.
His agent looked at him.
"These clubs want you."
Devin looked at the messages.
Then he shook his head.
"No."
His agent stared at him.
"No?"
"I'm staying."
"You rejected all of them?"
Devin nodded.
"I've got unfinished business."
---
A few weeks later...
Devin arrived at England's training camp.
He stepped off the bus.
And immediately heard a familiar voice.
"Finally!"
Devin turned.
Max was standing there.
Devin laughed.
"You've been here five minutes."
"Still beat you here."
They bumped fists.
Then another player walked toward them.
A familiar face.
Prince Knight.
But this time, he wasn't wearing a Betis shirt.
He was wearing Juventus colours.
Prince Knight had already made his move to Italy.
Devin smiled.
"Juve treating you well?"
Prince Knight laughed.
"Better than you think."
Max joined them.
"So we're all here now."
Prince Knight nodded.
"England."
The three stood together.
Three teammates.
Three different clubs.
One country.
And one dream.
The World Cup.
---
England's journey began.
Game after game, they kept winning.
Devin created goals.
Max scored them.
Prince Knight controlled the Attack
The three became one of the most dangerous combinations in the tournament.
Round of 16.
England won.
Quarter-final.
England won.
Semi-final.
England won.
Now only one match remained.
The World Cup Final.
Devin stood in the tunnel.
Max was beside him.
Prince Knight stood on the front line
The roar of the stadium could be heard through the walls.
Max looked at them.
"We came here for this."
Prince Knight nodded.
Devin looked toward the pitch.
"Let's bring it home."
The tunnel opened.
The three walked onto the pitch.
Millions were watching.
England had one final battle.
And Devin was ready.
The World Cup Final was about to begin.