The path to becoming a football legend began with being ousted from Carrington by Manchester United.

Lin Yi's gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Pirlo. He took a piece of white paper, quickly wrote a line, folded it up, and handed it to Pirlo.

"Andrei, you go first. We'll see what happens before you kick."

"Café, you're second."

"Kaka, the third one."

"You're the fourth taxi driver."

Everyone received a slip of paper from Lin Yi, and was also instructed not to open it until the punishment was administered.

"Paul!" Lin Yi had just called out captain Maldini's name when Shevchenko jumped up immediately.

"Milo, what do you mean? I don't even qualify for a penalty kick anymore?" Shevchenko turned to Maldini and asked, "Paolo, can you give me a chance? I want to prove myself!"

Maldini shrugged and pointed at Lin Yi, meaning that they had to listen to the head coach.

Lin pulled Shevchenko aside and whispered, "What I said earlier was all a lie to them, but you are real, Shevchenko. You were a complete idiot in this match."

"You can hit Dudek with shots right in front of the goal line? I think he's got you under a spell. My advice is to avoid him. If you win, you can lift the trophy together with everyone; if you lose, you're not responsible. Isn't that great?"

Shevchenko stared into Lin Yi's eyes: "You don't believe me?"

Lin Yi countered, "What about you? Do you believe in yourself?"

Shevchenko closed his eyes, recalling the scene of his two shots being blocked by the opposing goalkeeper Dudek at the end of extra time, and his body involuntarily tensed up.

After a few seconds, Shevchenko let out a long breath and answered firmly, "Millo, I can!"

Lin patted Shevchenko on the shoulder and shouted, "Alright, guys, give Shevchenko a chance! Paul, you're sixth. Go! Your fate is in your hands!"

"Forza Milan!"

"Forza Milan!"

"Forza Milan!"

The crowd gathered around, shouted three times, and eagerly headed towards the field.

"Mr. Ancelotti, could I have one of those too?" Dida, the last goalkeeper, asked timidly, pointing at the pen and paper in Lin Yi's hand.

Lin nodded, pondered for a moment, and began writing on the slip of paper, though it took him significantly longer than the penalty takers.

After waiting for Lin Yi to finish writing, Dida didn't have time to read it. He hurriedly stuffed his soccer socks into his hand and ran onto the field.

Maldini guessed the coin toss correctly. Knowing his teammates' eagerness, he chose AC Milan to take the penalty first.

Gerrard chose the goal closest to the area where the Liverpool fans were.

At the signal from the fourth official, "Big Eyes" Pirlo walked towards the penalty spot.

He pulled a note from his socks, which read: "If the Liverpool goalkeeper suddenly starts dancing in front of the goal line, it's a sign that you're a girl. Trick him, in your own way."

With a hint of doubt, Pirlo took the ball from the referee and carefully placed it on the penalty spot.

Sure enough, the opposing goalkeeper, Dudek, suddenly started doing a noodle dance, bouncing back and forth on the goal line and waving his hands back and forth.

Pirlo, who was already mentally prepared, only felt that the other person was like a clown.

"It's time to grow a beard like Gattuso," Pirlo thought to himself, as he began his running start.

He raised his right leg high, brought it down heavily, and just as it was about to touch the ball, he suddenly pulled back his strength and gently flicked it with the instep, delivering a Panenka penalty kick.

Dudek misjudged the situation and lunged to his right, only to watch as Pirlo's penalty kick floated effortlessly into the net.

AC Milan secured a winning start.

"Well done, Andrei!"

"Yes! Just mess with him! Play with him!"

The Milan players were ecstatic; Pirlo's Panenka penalty had boosted their morale.

On the other hand, Liverpool's captain Gerrard had a furrowed brow and a bitter expression on his face. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was about to be sent by Gerrard to the Soviet-German front to launch a blitzkrieg against Moscow.

While Pirlo was taking the penalty kick, Dida, who was waiting nearby, quickly opened the note Lin Yi had given him.

It read in bold: "Dear Dida, I didn't want to tell you, but since you've asked so sincerely, I won't hide it anymore. The Camorra family, the largest mafia family in Italy, and the Glory Society they control, placed huge bets on us to win the championship before the tournament. According to the information I received, your family is under close surveillance and control. If we don't take action, I'm afraid your life and your family's life will be..."

On a new line, it reads: "Good luck, Andrés Escobar is watching over you from heaven."

A flustered Dida couldn't recover in time and was easily shot through the goal by Liverpool player Hamann.

After the first round, the score was tied 1-1.

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Dida's forehead.

Cafu, AC Milan's second player to enter the game, dragged his heavy legs toward the penalty area.

Only after setting up the football did he open the note Lin Yi had given him: "I don't think you're a coward. You're the world's best right-back. What do you think?"

"Of course!" Cafu said silently to himself.

Closing the note, Cafu used the last of his strength to unleash a powerful shot into the bottom right corner of the goal.

The football, like a cannonball, carrying the last glory of an old player, blasted open Dudek's ten fingers.

Subsequently, Liverpool's Cissé also converted a penalty.

Dida's forehead was beaded with sweat.

When it was Kaká's turn at AC Milan, the note read: "God is watching you!"

As a devout Catholic who even refused premarital sex, Kaka, carrying the hopes of God and Lin Yi, easily scored the penalty kick.

"Heavy hitter" Riise immediately responded with a powerful shot, and after three rounds, the score was tied 3-3.

Dida was sweating profusely.

Thomason, who was jokingly called a taxi driver by the head coach, stepped up to the penalty spot. He had been teased so badly before that he was even afraid to open the note.

Ultimately, curiosity prevailed, and Thomason saw Lin Yi's instructions: "Go and tell the whole world that your name is Jung Dahl Thomason!"

Thomason clutched the note tightly in his hand, calmly took a run-up, shot, and scored.

Thomason rushed up to Dudek and yelled, "I'm Thomason! Dahl Thomason! Remember my name, you bastard!"

Dudek: "?"

Tomasson's triumph was short-lived. Smicer, who came on next, fooled the out-of-form Dida and tied the score at 4-4.

Dida was utterly despondent.

Shevchenko, who was the last to appear, did not open the note Lin Yi had given him.

He stood in front of the ball, staring intently at Dudek, replaying in his mind the scene of missing the game-winning goal over and over again. Gradually, the corners of Shevchenko's mouth began to turn up slightly.

As the referee blew his whistle, Shevchenko calmly took a run-up, swung his arm, raised his leg, and shot – the entire movement was executed in one smooth motion.

Dudek was helpless and could only watch as Shevchenko's penalty kick went into the net.

Italian commentator Krudelli excitedly shouted in the live broadcast: "Beautiful shot! Shevchenko held his nerve! AC Milan converted all five of their penalties. Now the pressure is on Liverpool; if they can't score, the game will be over!"

"Let me see, Gerrard has stepped up. In the final round, it's a duel between Liverpool captain Gerrard and Dida."

Let's wish Dida good luck!

Dida definitely needed some good luck; his jersey was completely soaked, and his legs were shaking uncontrollably.

12 yards out, Liverpool leader Gerrard stood in front of the ball with a bitter expression.

Their eyes met, and Dida slowly uttered, "Football is life. I'm sorry! I have to win!"

Finally, Dida stopped trembling, and his eyes became firm.