From Arsenal to the Ball God

”It’s a done deal? Ma’el bypasses the Golden Boy Award selection and directly enters the Golden Ball Award candidate list!” — France’s L’Equipe

”Far ahead! Ma’el is one of the youngest on the current Golden Boy candidate list, yet he’s the first to step into the Zurich Center!” — The United Kingdom’s The Guardian

”Götze officially withdraws from the Golden Boy Award race, leaving Ma’el to undoubtedly claim the 2011 Golden Boy Award and become the world’s most remarkable talent of the year!” — French Football

”Endorsement offers exceed £1.6 million! Reportedly, the player’s annual income has surpassed £5 million, making him one of the highest-earning stars in the Premier League!” — Portugal’s Record

”Who’s the future king of football? Europe’s best young player, Ma’el, or South America’s best young player, Neymar?” — Brazil’s Bad Ball Sports

With just this wave, Ma’el’s Twitter and Facebook followers both soared past 12 million, breaking 25 million across both platforms!

”Well-deserved!”

”Ma’el is stronger and more beneficial to the team! Neymar’s trait is his pleasing Samba football which is more entertaining, but it seems to be slightly less efficient than Ma’el.”

”I’ve always been a Neymar fan and wanted to argue, as the player averages a goal per match... but after looking at Ma’el’s stats, well, I’m speechless.”

”Can’t wait for the photo of Ma’el holding the Golden Boy Award! Can’t the football world elect 100 of the year’s best handsome guys, so Ma’el can have another award to win? That one seems more certain.”

”I think Kaka is better looking?”

”I think Diego Costa is better looking, too.”

”Ma’el and Kaka are on par, each with their own traits, though it’d be better if his style was more elegant.”

”His style has become very elegant already, and it should be more practical now; no one gets more flashy unless he can maintain this efficiency while being flashy, then he truly is an extraordinary genius.”

”Go for it!”

”...”

Those following Ma’el’s social media quickly noticed he posted breaking news on both Facebook and Twitter.

”On December 23, I will give my first personal interview to the UK’s Football Record. Thanks to ’the most beautiful journalist’ Amelia for the invitation. This interview will initially be released on Instagram, followed by Twitter and Facebook.

”@Football Record @Amelia!” — Ma’el’s latest social media post

Though he did not explicitly say it, the date December 23 strongly hinted that it concerned the Golden Boy Award.

Instantly, many enthusiastic fans searched for Football Record and Amelia online and then downloaded Instagram in anticipation of that day.

The three parties gained immense exposure from Ma’el’s fame, which they mutually promoted, supporting each other’s growth.

The gratitude they felt towards Ma’el was beyond words.

...

On December 10, Arsenal’s Premier League match against Everton is about to kick off, the outside of the Emirates Stadium is bustling with excitement.

”Dun-dun-dun-dun! I have a friend!”

”He drives a Pagani along the sideline, dances a swan dance on the defender’s line...!”

”Ma’el! Ma’el!”

”Golden Boy Award!”

”We no longer need Fabregas; we have a new golden boy!”

”Watch closely, Xiaofa, he will lead us to a renaissance! We will give him ten times the love we gave you!”

”He is the one who can represent Arsenal’s glory... entering the Golden Ball Award candidate list in the first year of the top league, a step that took Fabregas a full five years!”

Fans sang the Song of Ma’el, raising their hands high, clapping merrily as they entered Emirates Stadium.

They’ve been keeping up with the news online these past few days, witnessing their player on the front page with every piece about him linked to honors, filling them with pride.

Arsenal hasn’t seen a player like this in many years... calling him the New Henry seems inappropriate now because he’s forging a new unbeaten path.

Meanwhile, on a street beside Emirates Stadium, inside an old pub.

Jones and the pub owner sat at the bar, discussing something while looking at the data on their phones.

”My prediction was right.”

Jones, excitedly pointing at his phone, said, ”Even though news about Ma’el has been all over the place lately, with the shooters from behind closing in, bookies will raise his odds, enticing more to bet on him.

”On the one hand, their confidence in Ma’el isn’t that strong; on the other hand, as time goes by, more have started placing bets on Aguero, Van Persie, Rooney, so they need to manage risks.

”Riding on the wave of Ma’el’s award-winning momentum draws more people to bet on him, splitting the money across multiple pools helps them hedge the risk.”

The pub owner nodded in agreement, eventually sighing and saying, ”Even if what you say isn’t entirely reasonable, looking at the results, it’s certainly the case.”

Jones chuckled lightly, indifferent about the comment, and continued, ”Odds of 7.2, an increase of 0.7 from before, I reckon it’s reached its peak, and Ma’el will definitely explode in 1 or 2 matches before the Golden Boy Award.

”I’m going to put in the 4,000 pounds I’ve painstakingly saved up this round, raising my final return to 190,000 pounds!

”I’ll treat you to drinks then, every day for 10 years... haha.”

Even though the pub owner laughed along, he wasn’t as optimistic, ”But all your beautiful plans hinge on Ma’el successfully clinching the Golden Boot Award, isn’t it?”

”Yes.”

Jones smiled confidently, knowing full well that this wasn’t a sure thing, not even a 50% probability, ”But with so much already invested, I can only continue to keep faith in him.