The First Ballon d'Or
Brazil and South Korea defeated each other 4-2!
……Ryu Ha-neul played brilliantly with 1 goal and 1 assist, leading the match to a 2-2 tie. However, after he was substituted in the 22nd minute of the second half, South Korea started to collapse rapidly. In the 31st minute of the second half, they conceded a comeback goal to Hoberta, and in the 41st minute, a decisive goal to Davina…….
Ballon d'Or voting has ended!
……This Ballon d'Or vote was cast by 96 prominent football journalists from nations ranked 150th or lower in the FIFA rankings…….
Meanwhile, Ryu Ha-neul of Barcelona was the strong favorite for this award. The 17-year-old attacking midfielder had won every major title available this season, including the Champions League, Copa del Rey, and Asian Cup, as well as the UEFA Super Cup. He also claimed the 18-19 UEFA Champions League Player of the Year, the 18-19 UEFA Champions League Top Scorer, the Spanish Primera Liga third in goals and first in assists, Asian Cup Top Scorer, and MVP.
Moreover, since the voting concluded, Ryu Ha-neul had recorded 32 club matches with 41 goals and 23 assists, and 13 national team matches with 20 goals and 12 assists, totaling 45 matches, 61 goals, and 35 assists for 96 attacking points.
However, with 34 journalists from an Islamic background included in the vote, the male gender might still play a role as a variable…….
If Ryu Ha-neul were to receive the Ballon d'Or at the ceremony on December 3rd, he would become the youngest winner ever at 17 years and 365 days, the first minor winner, and the first male winner.
Whether Ryu Ha-neul would win the Ballon d'Or this ceremony was a question on the minds of countless football fans worldwide…….
Barcelona defeated Reggane 5-1 away!
……Ryu Ha-neul recorded 1 goal and 2 assists…… Early in the first half, Barcelona led 3-0, and when the second half began, they immediately substituted Ryu Ha-neul to prepare for the home match against Dortmund…….
Barcelona defeated Dortmund 2-1 at home!
Barcelona drew 2-2 away at Atletico Madrid!
Ryu Ha-neul! Heading to Paris for the Ballon d'Or ceremony!
“Ugh, I’m nervous.”
“Eh, it’s nothing. Why are you so tense?”
In the bus heading to Paris for the Ballon d’Or ceremony, Camila, who had been nominated for the Copa del Trofeo award for players under 21, couldn’t hide her nervousness as her legs trembled.
The sight of her trembling legs caught my eye. Unlike her usual self, she was dressed in a suit, but since she was a woman, it was a skirt, and the cool weather meant her legs were wrapped in stockings.
I had watched Camila for over ten years, but this was the first time I had seen her in a skirt and stockings.
Yet it suited her well.
……As long as the stockings weren’t laddered, like Camila’s usual sloppy personality.
“Camila.”
“Hm?”
“Your stockings are laddered.”
“Eh? When did that happen. Thanks. Ha-neul, do you have any stockings?”
“What? That’s why I’m here?”
“Ah, right. Albaria! Are there any spare stockings?”
Camila knelt on her seat, stood up, and spoke to Albaria sitting in the back row.
Albaria was also a candidate, so she had come to the ceremony with us. Of course, she never skipped the ceremony even if the winner was uncertain. Besides Albaria, Tiana, Maximilena, Eloya, Yelena, Arnal, Anila, Narcis, the starting players, and Angela, the coach award candidate, were all on the bus.
In my previous life, there was one teammate who didn’t participate in the ceremony even though his team won, but I didn’t really blame him. It was the result of changing his style and heading too much, gradually killing brain cells.
‘How did that cool guy end up like this? Is heading really that influential?’
I wanted to praise myself for not heading since youth. If I had, I might have become an old pervert too. Just a bit worried about young Valentina who headed a lot.
‘Could Tina’s violence be because she headed too much? Will she get dementia later? Do I have to feed her?’
Thinking about feeding old Valentina with a spoon in a few decades made me smile faintly.
“What are you thinking about that makes you laugh?”
Camila, who had sat back down, confirmed my expression and asked while peeling the stockings she received from Albaria.
“Camila. I think Tina might have headed too much.”
“Suddenly?”
“I cared for her that way, but violence doesn’t make sense.”
“…I guess? But maybe not? Because of you since she was little…. No.”
“What? Why did you stop? Hey! What if I take them off now?”
“Eh? Eh?”
Suddenly interrupted, I looked to the side. Camila was slightly lifting her hips, fumbling to take off the stockings.
Anyway, is this the average caution of women in this world?
Camila was still childish despite turning 18, so I was startled and turned my face. If it hadn’t been black stockings, it would have been a real disaster.
No, is turning my face really necessary?
“Sorry, I forgot because it’s been a while since I wore a skirt.”
I turned back to Camila, who had a sorry expression.
“Oh, Camila. Tomorrow you become an adult, right? Are you planning to launch a physical assault?”
“Ah, that’s not it! What are you saying?”
“That’s not the case.”
And the crude jokes of the colleagues watching made us shake our heads.
“But, Ha-neul. Since you’re an adult now, how about a drink after the ceremony today?”
Albaria, wanting a drink after the ceremony, encouraged me to join the party.
‘Should I have just one drink after a long time?’
While I was pondering Albaria’s suggestion, the answer came from the front.
“No.”
Of course, the voice belonged to Angela.
“Eh, Angela! Let’s have a drink together?”
“No! Ha-neul. Even if you become an adult tomorrow, alcohol is still underage.”
Angela firmly rejected Albaria’s pouting and leaned out to the aisle, met my eyes, and spoke.
“If you’re going to drink, drink in a wise place. She said? Korean age, you won’t be adult until January 1, so don’t let you drink at all.”
“…Yes.”
Unfortunately, but if Mom says so, what can I do? Besides, since it’s not with friends or colleagues, there might be trouble, so it was better to follow Angela’s words.
“Then, just us?”
“What do you mean just us? There’s a match coming up soon. Drink during rest. During rest. But don’t drink too much during rest either.”
“Just one drink. We came all the way to Paris. Right?”
“No. After the ceremony, we return immediately.”
While Albaria was trying to seduce Angela, Camila whispered in my ear in a small voice.
“Ha-neul. But you’re not drinking tomorrow? We said we’d have a drink just us tomorrow. Because you’re not an adult? Then Yuri can’t drink either?”
“Camila.”
“Hm?”
“Friends can secretly drink even if not adult. And, since we came to Europe, we have to follow European law. Yuri and I are adults.”
“Ugh, lucky. Okay.”
While I was spending time conspiring with Camila, the bus arrived at the destination, and when I got off, the building where the Ballon d’Or ceremony was held came into view.
Seeing the reporters lining up in front of the venue gave me a familiar feeling.
Of course, it wasn’t because the building was familiar. This was the first time I had seen the building where the ceremony was held. But the atmosphere where all the reporters were focusing on me was too familiar.
“Ryu.”
As I entered the venue, one player approached. It was Marisol, who was expected to finish third in the Ballon d’Or. Seeing Marisol in a suit for the first time made me almost not recognize her, but I quickly hid my surprise and spoke.
“Ah, Marisol. Long time no see.”
After greeting and shaking hands, flashes went off around us. The journalists seemed to want to capture this scene where I was shaking hands with Marisol, as if I was acknowledging her as a good player, and they knew her skills too.
“I lost this time, but next year I’ll take it.”
“Good luck.”
Marisol smiled faintly at the cliché “good luck” and returned to her seat. Probably Marisol knew I didn’t mean it sincerely. I had no intention of giving her the Ballon d’Or anyway.
After talking to Marisol, I greeted players I had met several times in matches and sat down to wait. Soon, the ceremony was about to start.
“The Copa del Trofeo goes to…! Ryu Ha-neul of Barcelona!”
As expected, my name was called for the first award, the Copa del Trofeo.
“Ryu Ha-neul has shown the most outstanding performance among players under 21 this season……”
While listening to the host’s eloquent introduction of my career, I walked to the podium, and applause erupted around me.
Thinking about the effort it took to come here and receive this applause made my chest tighten a bit, but this was just the appetizer.
“Hello. This is Ryu Ha-neul of Barcelona. Receiving such a big award is an honor……”
My acceptance speech was as short as possible.
But since the other people at the ceremony knew this wasn’t the main event, no one pointed out my short speech.
After I started, the best goalkeeper award of the season (received by Maximilena of our team), the male Ballon d’Or, etc., were announced, leaving only the last one.
Albaria, Albert, Marisol, and me.
Four faces appeared on the screen.
And Lima opened the envelope for the Ballon d’Or award.
Lima, who picked me as the player to watch most in the 2018 World Cup, knew from the beginning that I would be the winner when she became the presenter, but still my heart was pounding.
“The Ballon d’Or winner is! Ryu Ha-neul of Barcelona! Ryu Ha-neul has played in 48 games this year, scoring 63 goals and 36 assists……”
The applause was so loud it drowned out Lima’s words. Among them, the loudest applause came from the side where our players were and the side where male players were gathered. I noticed some players crying while clapping.
I didn’t particularly empathize because I wasn’t a ‘man’ in this world, but seeing my colleagues clap made my heart flutter a bit.
“Ryu. I knew you’d be here.”
“Ah… thank you. And about the World Cup thing.”
“Haha, those who can’t recognize you are idiots.”
Lima handed me the spherical trophy and whispered in a small voice. It seemed Lima was quite happy that I won the Ballon d’Or.
“But, if you’re thanking, how about a drink?”
“Sorry, I have a promise to return immediately.”
“Haha, first time seeing a difference with a guy.”
Lima smiled coolly, handed the trophy, and returned to her seat.
Now it was truly my time.
Honestly, I never thought I’d receive this award so early. I thought just playing in a pro team was enough.
And the past that led to receiving this award came to mind one by one.
But unexpectedly, I didn’t cry. Honestly, I thought maybe I’d cry because of these damn hormones and look pathetic, but apparently not.
The moment I received the award, the only emotion that dominated me was the overwhelming joy like bursting chest, just like back then.
Thinking about the hardships until now, the whining would not suit Ryu Ha-neul no matter what.
“Hello. This is Ryu Ha-neul. Honestly, when I received the Copa del Trofeo, I deliberately made my acceptance speech short because of this award. Somehow I thought I’d get this award.”
Laughter erupted from various places at my words.
“Actually, I had prepared a longer acceptance speech. But standing here, I think it’s unnecessary.
When I was young, many people said I wouldn’t be able to debut in pro because I was a man. When I said I’d win the Ballon d’Or, they laughed at me. But I kept trying, and I proved it. Don’t stop even if someone laughs at your dream. Don’t give up because of what you’re born with.
……I had prepared a somewhat didactic story?
But just honestly, since my birthday hasn’t passed yet, as the first minor winner, I’ll express my thoughts.
It’s good. I can’t believe how happy I am. I won’t miss this award in the future. Thank you!”