After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

After returning to his club from the national team, Yan Yuan, having won a new round of league matches, is about to participate in new activities.

FIFA Awards Ceremony.

He wasn't the only one invited to the awards ceremony; Rodri was also among them.

Last season, Yan Yuan performed exceptionally well, and Rodri's performance was equally impressive.

Although he is a midfielder, his performance ranks very high among players in the same position.

This year's ceremony will be held at La Scala in the heart of Milan.

Tonight, the place is brightly lit and the stars are shining.

This world-renowned opera temple has temporarily shed its classical art aura and transformed into a focal point for the world of football.

The FIFA annual awards ceremony will be held here.

The venue has been set up.

The red carpet stretched from the street all the way to the theater entrance, with media reporters and enthusiastic fans from all over the world crowding both sides. The flashes of light from the cameras were like a never-ending lightning bolt, illuminating the night as if it were daytime.

Luxury cars representing various clubs gathered here one after another.

A black luxury car slowly came to a stop at the starting point of the red carpet.

The car door opened, and the first person to step out was a young man dressed in a well-tailored black Armani suit.

Yan Yuan.

Despite being only 19 years old, he has been to such important occasions several times before.

Compared to last season's ceremony, he appeared much more composed this time.

Immediately after, another man, Rodri, dressed in a classic black Armani suit, got out of the car and nervously adjusted his bow tie.

This was Rodri's first time attending a ceremony.

Finally, a sprightly elderly man wearing his signature rimless glasses stepped out of the car with the help of two people. It was none other than Arsenal's retired legend, Professor Arsène Wenger.

He was wearing a well-fitting charcoal gray suit, with a calm expression and his signature glasses.

Three people: Wenger, Yan Yuan, and Rodri.

The combination of the three of them instantly caused a flurry of camera flashes in the venue.

Wenger was the founding father, while Yan Yuan and Rodri were the flag bearers who ushered in a new era for Arsenal.

"Mr. Wenger! Look here!"

"Yan! Congratulations!"

"Rodri! Smile!"

"Professor Wenger looks great!"

The reporters' shouts nearly lifted the roof off.

Yan Yuan walked naturally to Wenger's left, gently supporting his arm, while Rodri walked respectfully to his right.

The three of them walked in unison, waving to the camera.

"Professor, how are you feeling?" Yan Yuan tilted his head slightly and asked Wenger in a low voice, his tone showing respect for his elder.

Wenger patted the back of his hand with a warm smile.

"Great, Yan, seeing you all standing here makes me even happier than when I won the award myself."

Wenger's gaze swept over the grand scene before him, as if he were reviewing his coaching career.

Rodri, standing to the side, appeared somewhat reserved.

This was the first time in his career that he had stepped onto the red carpet of such a prestigious international event. Faced with the blinding flashes of light and the clamor of the crowd, he instinctively straightened his back, his movements slightly stiff.

Yan Yuan noticed his teammate's tension. He leaned closer to Rodri and whispered in a teasing tone.

"Hey Rodri, relax. Just think of it as another away game, except this time we're wearing suits instead of jerseys."

He blinked.

"Look over there, the cameras are much friendlier than the opposing fans."

Wenger laughed when he heard this and said to Rodri.

"Yan is right, Rodri. You'll be coming to events like this often in the future. You'll get used to it and enjoy the process."

The professor's words, filled with encouragement and foresight, eased Rodri's tension considerably.

"Okay, Captain, Professor, I'll try my best to get used to it."

The three of them walked together into the magnificent theater, where soft lighting, classical decorations, and the whispers of celebrities from all walks of life intertwined to create a solemn yet warm atmosphere.

The guests have taken their seats in order.

Before finding his seat, Yan Yuan scanned the entire room and saw many familiar faces.

He first saw Cristiano Ronaldo, who was talking to someone next to him, still exuding an aura of dominance.

Yan Yuan took the initiative to step forward, and the two shook hands amicably, exchanged a few brief pleasantries, and expressed their respect to each other.

Then he greeted his rivals and friends, including Kane, Mbappe, and Salah.

When he saw Van Dijk, he smiled and nodded in greeting, the two knowingly sharing the intense rivalry in the Premier League.

Virgil van Dijk is also one of the favorites this year.

However, when Yan Yuan's gaze met Messi's not far away, the atmosphere became slightly awkward.

It was even a little awkward.

Messi sat quietly in his seat, his expression somewhat indifferent, seemingly not fully immersed in the surrounding noise.

Yan Yuan understood this feeling very well.

Just last season in the Champions League, his Arsenal team handed Messi's Barcelona a devastating defeat.

This crushing defeat has now been officially recorded in Barcelona's history.

So if they don't want to talk to you, it's better not to bother them.

Yan Yuan withdrew his gaze, stopped thinking about it, and went straight to his seat.

……

The organizers carefully arranged for Yan Yuan, Rodri, and Wenger to sit together in the best area at the front of the venue.

After taking their seats, Wenger sat in the middle, with Yan Yuan and Rhodes on either side, like stars surrounding the moon.

This scene was captured by the cameras and became one of the most heartwarming moments before the ceremony began.

The ceremony officially began at 8:00 p.m.

The host walked onto the stage and, after a wonderful opening speech, began the formal awards ceremony.

The awards were presented gradually, from minor to major, and the suspense increased with each passing moment.

The first announcement was the FIFA Team of the Year.

Yan Yuan and Rodri were both selected without any doubt for the lineup that symbolizes the strongest eleven in world football this year.

When the name is called.

Yan Yuan calmly stood up, hugged Rodri and Wenger beside him, then walked onto the stage and accepted the trophy from the presenter.

This is a testament to his abilities and a microcosm of the team's success.

Next up was the Puskás Prize.

The big screen began replaying the candidate goals: there were amazing bicycle kicks and long-range world-class goals, but when the replay showed Yan Yuan's stunning long-range shot from zero angle in last season's Premier League, the whole stadium erupted in gasps!

That goal was perfect in terms of difficulty, imagination, and importance.

The result was as expected, the host announced loudly.

"The Puskás Award winner is Yan Yuan, the player and captain from Arsenal Football Club!!"

Yan Yuan stood up again, this time with an even brighter smile.

This award is the highest recognition of his personal creativity and superb archery skills.

In his acceptance speech, he humorously said, "Thank you to my teammates for trusting me and passing the ball to me from that angle. And thank you to the opposing goalkeeper for standing a little too far forward."

This drew bursts of laughter and applause from the audience.

Next comes the selection of the best coach.

When the host announced "Arsène Wenger!" the entire audience erupted in the longest, most enthusiastic, and most respectful applause!

All guests.

Regardless of which club or country they came from, they spontaneously stood up to pay tribute to this legendary coach who dedicated his life to football and wrote the most glorious chapter in the twilight of his career!

Professor Wenger slowly rose with the help of Yan Yuan and Rhodesi. He was clearly agitated, and tears glistened behind his glasses.

He walked onto the stage, received the trophy from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech:

"Thank you FIFA, thank you to everyone who voted. This award doesn't belong to me personally; it belongs to the Arsenal team that never gave up and created miracles last season, and to every player and staff member who worked hard for the club." He looked down at the audience.

"I especially want to thank one person, the most talented player of my coaching career, Yan Yuan." The camera immediately zoomed in on Yan Yuan, who was looking intently at his mentor.

"Your talent, your hard work, your leadership qualities—you made the team what it is today. You also made the last leg of my coaching career so perfect and so memorable. Thank you, my best player."

These heartfelt words moved countless people.

Yan Yuan clapped enthusiastically from below the stage, his eyes filled with gratitude.

Afterwards, the awards for the best female football player and the head coach were presented.

Finally, the ceremony reached its most exciting and climactic moment.

FIFA Men's Player of the Year.

This award also has another name known to the world: FIFA World Player of the Year.

The number of nominees for this award varies each year; this year, 14 people were nominated.

The host announced the names in reverse order, starting from number 14.

Rodri's name appears in number 11.

This is a huge affirmation for him, who was selected for the candidate list for the first time.

He happily got up and hugged Yan Yuan and Wenger one after the other.

As the rankings improved, the atmosphere in the venue became increasingly tense.

Tenth place... Fifth place, Fourth place...

Finally, only the last three names remain a mystery.

The images of the three final candidates appeared on the big screen: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Yan Yuan.

The host took a deep breath and announced in a solemn voice:

"The third-place winner of the 2019 FIFA Men's Player of the Year award... Lionel Messi!"

Applause erupted, and Messi politely rose to acknowledge it.

"Second place... Cristiano Ronaldo!"

The applause grew even louder, and Ronaldo, with a smile on his face, displayed the demeanor of a king.

The answer has now been revealed.

All the cameras and all the eyes were focused on the 19-year-old boy in the black haute couture suit!

"The winner of the 2019 FIFA Men's Player of the Year award is—Yan Yuan!!!"

"Boom—!" The entire La Scala theater erupted in cheers! The applause, cheers, and whistles were deafening.

This is a historic moment!

Yan Yuan, at the age of 19 years and 4 months, became the youngest winner in the history of the FIFA Player of the Year award!

This breaks Messi and Ronaldo's decade-long monopoly on this award!

Yan Yuan slowly stood up from his seat, a radiant smile spreading across his face, tinged with a sense of relief.

He first turned around and gave his mentor, Professor Wenger, a deep and solemn hug, which he held for a long time.

Wenger patted his back hard, his eyes filled with proud tears.

Then, he embraced the excited Rodri and the guests around him who all stood up to congratulate him.

Kane, Mbappe, Van Dijk, and others shook hands one by one.

After the greetings, Yan Yuan walked steadily onto the stage with firm steps.

When he received the heavy trophy, symbolizing the highest individual honor in football, from the presenter, he raised it high above his head and accepted the cheers of the world!

In his acceptance speech, Yan Yuan thanked his family, friends, father, every member of Arsenal Football Club, and all the fans who supported him.

Then, he specifically said:

"This award is very special because it comes from the collective choice of coaches, captains, journalists and fans around the world, which represents a broad recognition."

But I know that football is a team sport, and my honors come from the strong team behind me. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to thank one person again.

His gaze drifted towards Wenger in the audience.

"Coach Arsène Wenger, you brought me to Arsenal, gave me boundless trust and a stage to showcase my talents. You taught me so much more than just football. This trophy is half your achievement. Thank you, Professor!"

Thunderous applause erupted again from the audience, and Wenger smiled with satisfaction and nodded repeatedly in the camera's view.

Tonight, Yan Yuan successfully won the FIFA World Player of the Year award and the Puskás Award.

The event has now concluded, and the grand awards ceremony came to a close amidst music and applause.

The guests began to leave, but the media area remained bustling with activity.

Yan Yuan, Rodri, and Wenger did not leave immediately. They found a relatively quiet spot and asked the staff to take a memorable group photo for them.

"Coach, Rhodes, let's take a group photo here."

The reporter said, "Okay, gentlemen, this is a perfect spot. Let me take your picture. By the way, Yan, could you please tell me if our magazine can publish this photo of you?"

Upon hearing the reporter's question, Yan Yuan smiled and replied.

"Of course, happiness is meant to be shared, but I can't make decisions about copyright fees."

"Hahahaha... Okay, I'm going to start filming now."

In the photo, Wenger sits in the middle, holding the Best Coach trophy with a kind smile; Yan Yuan stands to his left, holding the FIFA Best Player trophy in one hand and the Puskás Trophy in the other, looking confident and composed; Rodri stands to his right, holding the Best XI medal, his face beaming with a youthful smile.

This photo perfectly captures an era of Arsenal's legacy and glory.

After the photo shoot, on the way back, Yan Yuan said to Wenger.

"Coach, please come back to Colney and the Emirates Stadium often when you have time. We miss you very much. Please come and watch our game when you have time."

Wenger replied with a smile.

"Of course, I will definitely go back often. Seeing you continue to succeed is what makes me happiest. With you guys, I am very confident about Arsenal's future."

As night deepened, the starry sky over Milan became exceptionally bright.

That night, Yan Yuan was crowned king, Wenger was honored, and Rhodes began to shine.