Turin, Italy. The OGR venue.
In the dimly lit venue, a bright spotlight shone down, enveloping Ling's figure.
The host's voice echoed through the grand hall.
"The winner of the 2018 European Golden Boy Award has been announced—he is 19-year-old Manchester United player, Jeremy Ling! With a perfect score of 500, Ling received 490 points, achieving a voting rate of 98%, matching and breaking the record set by Kylian Mbappé in 2017."
After the host finished reading the introductory speech, he gestured for Ling to come on stage to receive the award.
The venue erupted in enthusiastic applause.
"Congratulations to Ling for adding the European Golden Boy Award to his personal honors, following his UEFA Men's Player of the Year award! Looking back at his career, I've lost count of how many records he has broken! But I believe this is not the end—it is only the beginning of a legend!"
"The European Golden Boy Award selects the best young player under 21 for the year in Europe. Young Ling has overwhelmingly defeated exceptional contenders like Matthijs de Ligt, Vinícius Júnior, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and others, firmly establishing himself as the leading figure among the new generation of players!"
"Looking back at Ling's career, many will be surprised to discover the sheer pace of his ascent. Born on December 14, 1999, Ling is a typical product of Manchester United's youth academy. He arrived at the Carrington training base at the age of 11, progressing from the U12 squad to the U18 squad, where he won honors such as the FA Youth Cup and the U18 Premier League Cup alongside teammates like Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay."
"The 2017-18 season was highly fruitful for Ling. Not only did he break into Manchester United's first team, but he also shattered the league goal-scoring record. The era of the 'Two Legends'—Messi and Ronaldo—is coming to an end, and many rising stars are emerging in the night sky. We believe Ling will become the brightest among them!"
When people saw the overwhelming news on the internet, they suddenly realized that Ling, who now wears the prestigious captain's armband at United, had only played senior football for one and a half seasons.
His short career could already be described as legendary, perfectly illustrating what it means to peak from the very start.
Everyone couldn't help but wonder what honors Manchester United would achieve this season and what role Ling would play.
If Manchester United could replicate last season's miracle and secure another Premier League and Champions League double, would Ling have a genuine chance to compete for the Ballon d'Or—the most prestigious individual award in football?
The number of viewers in the live broadcast room surged to 30 million, with comments flooding the screen like snowflakes.
@UtdFaithful: Ling, 666! The absolute best in the world!
@GoldenBoyWatch: If only the Golden Boy Award could be replaced with the Ballon d'Or, that would be perfect.
@FootballAnalyst: If Ling can maintain his form, the Ballon d'Or is just a matter of time. I hope he isn't just a flash in the pan.
@RedDevilsDaily: This year might be tough. In the league, there are Manchester City and Liverpool, and in the Champions League, we drew Atlético Madrid. It's even harder than last season's championship run.
@TransferGuru: Winter transfer window is about to open, Manchester United is seizing the time to wave cash around!
@StretfordEnd: I feel like Manchester United's squad is quite complete, not needing too many changes, right?
@TacticsNerd: They lack a true, world-class ball-winning defensive midfielder!
@ChelseaFanHQ: N'Golo Kanté? The key is whether Chelsea will sell. I heard they're pushing for a contract renewal recently, so it's too difficult for Manchester United to poach him.
@FrenchScout: Actually, Kanté struggles in Maurizio Sarri's tactical system right now, which also affects his position in the national team. He mentioned in an interview before that he might leave Chelsea in the summer window.
@Ligue1Watch: It doesn't necessarily have to be Kanté, though. Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon is also good.
@PremStatMan: Forget about him. Ndombele might do fine in Ligue 1, but he'd get crushed by the pace of the Premier League.
...
Ling buttoned his suit jacket, stood up, and gave a slight bow.
He shook hands with De Ligt, Vinícius, and the other nominees before slowly making his way to the podium.
Ling took the golden trophy with both hands as camera flashes erupted, capturing this historic moment.
The Golden Boy Award trophy closely resembles the Ballon d'Or trophy, perhaps designed that way to inspire young players to stay true to their original, ultimate aspirations.
"Congratulations, young man!" Italian legend Paolo Maldini said, patting Ling on the shoulder as he presented the award.
Maldini carefully observed the spirited young man before him. His thoughts couldn't help but drift back several decades.
Back then, he was just like this. In his youth, through outstanding performances and relentless effort, Maldini became a core player of AC Milan.
As a young man, he took over the captain's armband from Franco Baresi, becoming the new leader of AC Milan and leading the team to multiple historic championship titles.
In his middle age, he became a symbol and role model for Italian football.
Maldini found Ling quite to his liking—always calm and composed off the pitch, yet capable of transforming into a ruthless force on it when needed.
And in last season's Champions League final, Ling's never-give-up spirit had rekindled a long-lost passion within the Italian legend.
'It was just a shame this kid wasn't at Milan,' Maldini thought, 'otherwise, the club would be on the verge of a great revival.'
So Maldini leaned in and asked softly, "Do you love football?"
"Of course!" Ling replied with a bright smile. "I enjoy the joy and passion football brings, and I love the feeling of running freely on the green pitch!"
"Take it, it belongs to you!" Maldini also smiled warmly.
"Thank you," Ling replied with a nod.
Under the gaze of countless eyes worldwide, Ling took a deep breath.
The well-fitted suit paired with his upright posture perfectly embodied the youthful vigor of the young man.
Coupled with his experience as the UEFA Men's Player of the Year, Ling's demeanor was exceptionally poised and graceful at the microphone.
"Thank you very much to everyone who has supported me. It is an honor to receive the Golden Boy Award," Ling began. "Of course, winning this award would not have been possible without my teammates and coaches. Whether now or in the future, I believe we will always be the best. We will continue to strive for championships!"
After delivering his simple acceptance speech, Ling raised the Golden Boy Award trophy slightly, basking in the enthusiastic applause from the audience.
...
Meanwhile, in Manchester...
In the Old Trafford dressing room, the rest of the Manchester United squad was preparing for their English League Cup quarterfinal match against Burton Albion.
"Our team has produced another Golden Boy Award winner," Antonio Valencia said, looking at Ling in his sharp suit on the TV screen.
He could still recall the first time he saw Ling, who was noticeably more youthful and inexperienced back then.
"Antonio, if you ask me!" Ashley Young stretched lazily. "You should hurry up and officially step down as captain so he can have it."
"Get lost! I'm only 33 this year, and my career is still long! Let's talk about it when Ling turns 20," Valencia retorted irritably.
"Wait, isn't Ling's birthday on December 14th?" Scott McTominay slapped his forehead, wondering how he could have forgotten.
"The schedule has been too tight recently. Ling probably didn't even notice himself," Marcus Rashford reasoned.
"After the league match on the 31st, let's throw him a belated birthday celebration. How about that?"
"Sounds good! Everyone, remember to think in advance about what gift to prepare for Ling," Harry Maguire grinned foolishly. He was certain his gift would surprise Ling.
"Alright, pack up and get ready to take the field," Valencia ordered. "Even though Burton isn't a strong team, we're not fielding our main lineup today. Let's not have Ling return from Italy only to find we've been eliminated from the English League Cup!"
The morale of the Manchester United players soared, each of them brimming with energy.
..
After the Golden Boy Award ceremony ended in Turin, the organizers also prepared a lavish banquet.
As the main character, Ling naturally couldn't miss it.
"Hello, I'm Andrea, the current chairman of Juventus," a well-dressed man said, approaching Ling and raising his glass.
"Hello." Ling also raised his glass and clinked it with Andrea Agnelli's.
From what he knew, this Andrea was the fourth-generation heir of the powerful Agnelli family, with widespread influence globally.
"It's a shame Cristiano isn't here today," Agnelli smiled smoothly. "Otherwise, a photo of the two of you together would be absolutely amazing for the media."
Since Cristiano Ronaldo joined Juventus, the Italian club's stock had risen by 8%, making them a fortune.
Thus, Andrea had naturally set his eyes on Ling. After all, a 19-year-old Champions League winner, backed by the limitless potential of the massive Chinese market, would definitely attract a huge amount of global attention.
If they could market Cristiano Ronaldo and Ling together... Andrea couldn't help but feel excited just thinking about it!
"We actually met just a few days ago at the Champions League draw," Ling replied politely.
He understood Andrea's underlying meaning and recruitment pitch, but he had absolutely no interest in playing in the declining Serie A, even if Juventus could offer far better financial terms than Manchester United.
Right now, he had countless ways to make money, but meaningful championships in the best league were what he truly pursued.
So he politely declined Andrea's subtle offer.
"Haha, I'm sure there will be opportunities to work together in the future," Andrea wasn't upset.
As a seasoned businessman, he knew that good deals take time.
As long as he established a relationship early on, it might come in handy someday.
After saying this, he turned and left, giving Ling some space.
Ling then proactively approached Paolo Maldini across the room and took an old photo out of his bag.
"Mr. Paolo, could I trouble you for an autograph?"
Maldini took the photo and glanced at it, surprised.
Outside the grand San Siro stadium, a middle-aged man and a young child were both smiling brightly.
Noticing the timestamp printed on the photo, Maldini asked tentatively, "The 2004 Milan Derby?"
"Yes, my father is a massive AC Milan fan, and his favorite player is Gennaro Gattuso," Ling replied with a smile.
"Gattuso? Why pick the ugliest one ouf of us?!" Maldini joked warmly as he signed his name on the back of the photo.
Ling didn't dare to agree, only offering a wry, polite smile in silence.
As for why his father liked Gattuso? Ling remembered his father's words vividly.
"Tough, resilient, a true warrior, yet with a heart of gold. I hope you can become someone like that too."
Thinking of this, Ling thanked Maldini and walked alone to the quiet garden outside the venue, where he dialed his home number.
"Weren't you attending the awards ceremony?" Ling Changzheng asked, turning down the TV volume.
A cigarette dangled from his mouth.
"Oh, I got Maldini's autograph for you, but unfortunately couldn't meet Gattuso," Ling said. He took a photo of the signed picture and sent it over via WeChat.
"No worries, you'll run into him sooner or later," his father replied, not minding at all.
Then silence fell on both ends of the call.
Eventually, his mother took the phone. "Son, I saw your recent match schedule. It's packed. If you're tired, don't push yourself too hard."
"I know, Mom."
"And your dad and I are planning to visit England during the Spring Festival. Don't forget to bring Maria along then!" she added cheerfully. "Oh, and be careful in the match the day after tomorrow."
Ling chatted with his parents about everyday matters for a while longer.
By the time he returned inside, the banquet was nearly over. He didn't stay in Italy overnight but headed straight to the airport.
Before boarding his private flight, he checked his phone and saw that in the English League Cup quarter-finals, Manchester United was already leading Burton by two goals.
After all, Burton was a League Two club, and even with a half-rotated squad, Manchester United completely controlled the match's tempo.
Sure enough, after the plane landed back in Manchester, Ling received a text from his teammates informing him of Manchester United's comfortable victory.
...
December 20th.
The FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals officially kicked off in the UAE!
Manchester United versus Kashima Antlers!
The full name of the tournament is the FIFA Club World Cup, an international football competition featuring top clubs from all six continental confederations.
Since Manchester United needed to return home for a massive Premier League match against Liverpool on December 24th, Mourinho fielded a half-rotated squad.
After the match started, the Japanese team came out strong, but unfortunately, their overall strength was limited.
In recent years, Kashima Antlers hadn't been a consistent title contender in the J-League, going through the growing pains of transitioning between old and new players.
They trailed the regular-season champions Urawa Red Diamonds by 15 points but later staged a remarkable comeback from a huge disadvantage to win the championship and qualify for the Club World Cup.
The first 20 minutes of the match were uneventful, but as Manchester United settled into the game, they launched a fierce offensive with full force.
The situation changed instantly.
In the 25th minute of the first half, Jesse Lingard cut inside from the left wing and combined with Paul Pogba in a quick one-two.
Pogba delivered a lofted pass just outside the penalty area, and Ling made a rapid forward run to fire a low-angle shot into the far corner for the goal!
From then on, Kashima Antlers simply couldn't keep up with Manchester United's physical pace, falling behind in both individual skill and overall tactics.
So the Kashima Antlers players changed their strategy, significantly increasing their physical marking pressure on Ling.
The message was clear: even if they lost the match, they wouldn't let the Golden Boy play comfortably.
Ling adapted his style accordingly, making unselfish runs to stretch the opponent's defense and create space for his teammates.
As a result, before the first half even ended, Pogba and Lingard each scored a goal to make it 3-0.
In the second half, Mourinho made widespread substitutions, and Ling was replaced by Mason Greenwood.
He needed to conserve energy for the North West Derby against Liverpool and couldn't afford to waste it on over-exerting players in the Club World Cup.
Kashima Antlers' attacks gradually gained momentum in the second half—after all, the AFC Champions League winners had some quality.
But Manchester United simply parked the bus right in front of their goal, infuriating the Kashima Antlers manager, who shouted from the touchline.
"A Premier League giant with centuries of history resorting to cowardly tactics like this?! Aren't you ashamed?"
Unfortunately for him, Mourinho didn't understand Japanese.
In the end, Manchester United easily held onto their lead and advanced to the Club World Cup final.
However, most of Manchester United's key players had already boarded a flight to return to England early.
Because in four days was the crucial North West Derby against Liverpool.
To be honest, Mourinho would rather give up the Club World Cup final entirely than lose to their bitter arch-rivals at Anfield.
The deep-seated rivalry between the two clubs was simply too intense. Coupled with the fierce competition in the league standings, if Manchester United lost this key match, they would drop to third place.
Thus, in the Club World Cup Final on December 23rd, Manchester United faced Al Ain and the game was far from easy for the remaining squad.
As a traditional powerhouse in the UAE league and ranked second in the Asian Football Confederation's club coefficient rankings, Al Ain's journey to the Club World Cup final had been nothing short of dramatic.
Starting from the first round, they eliminated the champions of Oceania, Africa, and South America to meet Manchester United in the final, proving their strength was not to be underestimated.
Moreover, they had Omar Abdulrahman, famously known as the "Messi of the Gulf."
But the heavily rotated Manchester United did not concede easily.
Mourinho had retained reliable veterans like Valencia and Ashley Young in the UAE, pairing them with Lingard, McTominay, Kovačić, Lindelöf, Romero, and others.
Scott McTominay performed exceptionally well in the midfield, ranking among the top in tackles and interceptions.
Through excellent defensive positioning, he proactively disrupted several of Al Ain's attacks early.
Additionally, due to his previous youth experience playing as a striker, McTominay had a precise and well-timed sense of when to make forward runs into the box.
In the 69th minute of the second half, Lingard's shot from the byline was saved by the Al Ain goalkeeper, but McTominay surged forward to score on the rebound!
As the match neared its end, Manchester United won a corner on the right side, and Kovačić delivered the ball to the far post.
Once again, it was McTominay who rose highest and headed it into the net!
After scoring his brace, the young Scotsman leaped high, punching the air as if to prove to his friend Ling back in England that he would eventually catch up and fight alongside him.
At that moment, he firmly believed that hard work truly pays off.
Because those two goals in a global final were the best evidence.
In the end, Manchester United lifted the FIFA Club World Cup trophy, singing the passionate club anthem amidst a shower of golden confetti!
They were officially the Champions of the World!
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