A team with more than twenty players, a league with twenty teams, the five major leagues together have nearly three thousand players, plus stars from the Portuguese Super League, Eredivisie, Russian Super League, and other leagues with three to five hundred excellent performing players.
Among four thousand high-level athletes, why must there be Lu Yang?
Who does he think he is?
...
Miracle Stadium.
Just after finishing the match, Lu Yang learned that for the Golden Ball Award selection here, voting starts with a list of one hundred candidates, ten votes each, the first vote worth ten points, the last vote worth one point.
Then, the French Football Association invites the top thirty scoring players to attend the award ceremony in person.
During this period, the top five players will be voted on again.
The highest scorer will become this year’s Golden Ball Award winner.
This is somewhat similar to the NBA, where not every player is eligible to be voted on for the All-Star players. You vote from a league-limited list, with a basic threshold.
This prevents some awkward situations and enhances the organization’s control over the award.
"Lu Yang, how do you view this match? Are you regretful?" a journalist began questioning.
The Man of the Match was AC Milan’s Andrés.
He scored twice and assisted once, dominating the field.
Sogel scored once and assisted once.
Scamacca, who was overshadowed in the national team by Canyes, got an assist.
AC Milan scored three goals in total.
On the side of San Remo, Canyes also contributed an assist, and Talista volleyed into the net.
Then, Canyes continued his stellar performance, creating a corner kick.
Morici took the corner kick, Lu Yang made a back header at the near post, Bai Zhami headed the ball into AC Milan’s goal.
In the final moments, trailing by two to three, San Remo still relied on a corner to break the deadlock.
Morici took the corner kick, Lu Yang scrambled at the near post.
Having learned from last time, AC Milan players thought Lu Yang couldn’t do damage at the near post, but instead was creating a chance for teammates behind.
So they gave Lu Yang some space.
However, Lu Yang made a perfect overhead kick, adjusting the shooting angle, and scored.
With one assist and one goal, Lu Yang became San Remo’s hero, earning a point for the team.
Three to three, both sides ended in a draw.
San Remo had just defeated Rome, pushing Rome down to fourth in the standings.
Immediately afterward, Rome climbed back up with a win.
Meanwhile, Juventus, initially lagging behind, maintained their fiery state and caught up behind San Remo, moving to fifth in the league.
AC Milan, due to this draw, was overtaken by Juventus and closely ranked with Lazio and Naples at sixth, seventh, and eighth.
"Not regretful, AC Milan played better than us today, getting a point is something we can accept," said Lu Yang. "As long as we get points in matches against strong teams, whether three or one, we are very pleased."
"Oh? So you’re saying that San Remo will start grabbing points when facing weaker teams? Do you consider yourselves a strong team?" the journalist asked.
Lu Yang: "San Remo certainly counts as a strong team. We’ve only lost one game and drawn one in the eight-game hellish schedule, isn’t that strong enough? Even the current table-topper Florence might struggle to perform better against such a schedule."
Journalist: "So your goal is to compete for the championship?"
Lu Yang: "Our season goal is to make it into the European Competition Zone, ideally stabilizing in the Champions League Zone! Competing for the championship is still a bit distant for us. I know everyone has great confidence in us, but I want to remind everyone that football has its fundamentals."
Journalist: "You said the same thing the year before and last year."
Lu Yang smiled slightly, with a look of ’you know’, and said no more.
At this point, another journalist interrupted.
"Lu Yang, what is your opinion on not being selected for the Golden Ball Award’s top hundred candidates?"
"Lu Yang, as a key contributor to the European Cup, watching Ancelotti, Perrotta, Praxedes, Audi, Bernulin, Finger, Drake, and others enter the candidate list, do you feel it’s unfair?"
"Lu Yang, with Zidane, Gudiola, Mr. Winter, Sir Manchester, Manchester City Sports Director, Jelang and others speaking up about your exclusion from the hundred candidates list, what’s your take on this?"
Lu Yang was taken aback.
This... What the hell!
Am I the last person in the world to know that I was excluded from the hundred candidates for the Golden Ball Award?
This is too dramatic, isn’t it?
"Can someone tell me what exactly happened," Lu Yang didn’t rush to express his stance.
Together with Lu Yang, Talista, Morici, and even Andrés and Praxedes had their expressions change.
If Lu Yang didn’t win the Golden Ball Award, no one would speak because it was expected, given his shallow experience. His strength still requires further proof.
But... not even making it into the hundred candidates list, whom are they insulting?
Soon, Lu Yang learned the ins and outs of the matter.
In fact, the selection began as early as October 22.
But now, it’s October 29.
So many days have passed, French Football was really low-key.
If those well-known personalities hadn’t spoken up, Lu Yang might still be in the dark.
After all, what he was aware of was limited to the thirty candidates shortlist for the Golden Ball Award.