I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 676 - 90: Football World

After all, last season, Chen Zhong produced historic data.Besides these three, Eto’o, who once played for Real Madrid and later transferred to Barcelona, also made it onto this list of the top 20 stars.

Since the Ballon d’Or selection started opening to all professional players worldwide in 1995, only George Weah from the African continent has won this award.

After George Weah, many people had high hopes for Eto’o, hailed as "Africa’s best player of the decade," especially in 2009.

That year, Eto’o scored 30 golden goals in La Liga and 4 golden goals in the Champions League, yet he didn’t even make it to the top three, which is puzzling.

He seems to be insulated from the Ballon d’Or.

Or perhaps he was born in the wrong era, where there are too many prodigies.

There’s also Drogba!

Drogba, like Eto’o, is a victim of African soccer.

He’s been playing for the best Chelsea Team for six or seven years, but hasn’t had the chance to step onto the podium.

Known as "Magic Beast," Drogba is considered a goal-scoring machine, helping Chelsea dominate the Premier League for years.

The only thing he’s missing is a Champions League winner’s medal.

Unfortunately, he is getting older and may not have the chance to compete for the Ballon d’Or in the future.

He is also one of the top center forwards well known to domestic fans.

Besides Drogba, another well-known player to domestic fans, Henry, leaves some fans with unfulfilled wishes.

Domestically, due to the phrase "my ball protection is like Henry" and "our Arsenal is invincible," Henry was viewed by many fans as a representative forward and a dream front forward for many fans.

He himself lived up to being France’s representative forward and a prominent European forward in the past decade, having absolute highlight periods in his career, but Henry only received the "silver ball" and "bronze ball" in 2003 and 2006 respectively.

However, he seems to be insulated from the Ballon d’Or, finding it difficult to claim the final "crown."

Many fans even think that all Henry can do now is score goals, score goals, and score more goals, using goals to support a period of time known as the Henry era.

Then there’s the likes of Newcastle’s "Assassin" Shearer.

The most elegant and versatile player in football history, Bergkamp.

Puskás, who ravaged the European football scene for many years.

Laudrup, the best player in Danish football history.

Schuster, one of the best midfielders of the 80s.

Fontaine, the French forward who scored 13 goals in the 1958 World Cup.

Europe’s best goalkeeper Zoff, who single-handedly dominated Italy’s goalkeeping position for a decade.

Free kick specialist Ronald Koeman, known as a "blade-wielding defender," but actually a defender.

One of the most prestigious players in the United Kingdom’s football history, Dalglish, the legendary star of Celtic and Liverpool.

Apart from that, there’s Romario, the Brazilian genius who once played for Real Madrid, whose biggest misfortune was that as the Ballon d’Or selection started opening to the world, his football career was declining.

And when he performed brilliantly at Eindhoven, Barcelona, and the 1994 World Cup, players from outside the European continent couldn’t participate in the European Golden Ball Award...

Finally, there’s Milan, once known as the mini World Cup, with a substantial fan base domestically.

In the Milan team, there are two widely known players who are regrettably memorable.

Paulo Maldini, Baresi.

The former, Paulo Maldini, became a legend, announcing his retirement in 2009 after playing 25 seasons for the Serie A powerhouse Milan, representing the Red-Black Army over 900 appearances, winning the European Champions Cup 5 times, captaining the Italy Team, and participating in 4 World Cups...

Looking at his all data and honors, even those who barely watch football would be surprised, "Wow, he never won the Ballon d’Or? These should be enough for him to win the Ballon d’Or!"

If no defender had ever won the Ballon d’Or, it wouldn’t seem that regretful for Maldini not to win.

However, despite being a defender, before him Sammer and after him Cannavaro both lifted the "Golden Ball."

Only "Scooter" remains, leaving with the third place in the selections of 1994 and 2003.

How could one not sigh over this?

And "lucky" Baresi, who is "unlucky" in some ways as well.

Baresi "luckily" found himself amidst the Milan era represented by Basten, Gullit, and Rijkaard.

In 1989, Baresi and his two Dutch teammates simultaneously made it to the final list but narrowly missed the "Golden Ball."

Based on Baresi’s resume, consistent performance, and the honors he received in Serie A and European football, Baresi deserved the Ballon d’Or.

Many view him as one of the best defenders in history, yet he never won the Ballon d’Or.

After introducing these players, the television started broadcasting Chen Zhong’s journey with Real Madrid.

Discovered by Real Madrid in 2004, under Juni Calafat’s recommendation, he joined the Real Madrid youth training, showing his diligence and all-powerful nature, then in the second half of 2006 and the beginning of 2007, he entered Castilla.

Chen Zhong’s trajectory was fairly normal.

But after being promoted to Real Madrid’s first team in 2007, his career trajectory took a drastic turn.

His first goal in an official match, a diving header in the Spanish Super Cup, familiarized everyone with this youthful, overly young kid.

While some were still questioning whether such a young person could play football, seasoned fans already sensed the aura of a "genius."

And in the derby against Atletico Madrid, when Chen Zhong came off the bench, tasked with repairing Real Madrid’s broken defense, people believed he might be a budding star defender.

Soon, things became bizarre. Against Villarreal, he assisted Van Nistelrooy, after earning a penalty, Real Madrid’s icon Raul ceded the spot to him, and in that match Chen Zhong scored one goal and contributed one assist, astonishing the football world.

In the Champions League group stage, against Werder Bremen, he completed an assist with a header, while Van Nistelrooy, who was rumored to have disagreements with Chen, actively assisted Chen to score, achieving one goal and one assist again.

Then assisted Robben against Getafe, scored against Olympiakos in the Champions League, assisted Robinho against Deportivo La Coruña, and scored 2 goals and assisted 1 against Valencia.

Chen Zhong’s first season was nothing short of perfect.

Under the guidance of Schuster, later known as the "Lion King" or "Mad Lion," Chen Zhong gradually made his name known.

In the 07-08 season, Chen Zhong helped Real Madrid secure the Spanish Super Cup and La Liga championships, becoming a young double crown player.

Appeared in 28 league matches, scored 12 goals, and provided 13 assists, appeared 7 times in the Champions League, scored 4 goals, and provided 3 assists

Personally gained the league’s best newcomer, FIFPro’s best young player.

Then, when everyone thought he would shine brightly, the "Mad Lion" Schuster fell out with Chen Zhong, that crazy coach loaned Chen to Italy, loaned him to Milan.

But at Milan, Chen Zhong settled down and refined himself.

There, he developed his short and long passing skills, and unleashed the super heavy cannon.

Opponents would start to tremble when they saw Chen Zhong outside the penalty area.

08-09 season, Chen Zhong helped Milan, stuck in a rut, win the Serie A championship and UEFA Europa League championship.

Appeared 13 times in the league, scored 7 goals, provided 5 assists, appeared 5 times in the UEFA Europa League, scored 3 goals, provided 2 assists,

Personal honors included the league’s best signing, UEFA Europa League final MVP, Serie A’s best lineup, FIFPro’s best young player among others.

Then came the 09-10 season, when people thought they had seen through Chen Zhong, he came out with even more astonishing performance.

In the 2009-10 season, Chen Zhong made 58 appearances in official competitions for Real Madrid, scoring 75 goals, shocking the football world. In La Liga, he claimed the La Liga Golden Boot and European Golden Boot with 48 goals, became the top scorer in the Champions League with 11 goals, and the top scorer in the King’s Cup with 16 goals.

Four top scorers, overshadowing Messi, reaching a new height with his stats.

In a single season, he helped Real Madrid secure the Spanish league title and the Spanish King’s Cup championship.

Personally awarded La Liga’s season best player, La Liga’s season best midfielder, La Liga’s best lineup, league’s best newcomer, FIFPro’s best young player among many other awards.

Just as people were marveling at Chen Zhong’s rise to fame and some iconic moments like when Chen Zhong let the penalty kick to Raul and when Robben rode atop Chen Zhong, the Ballon d’Or ceremony began.