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

The dawn following the 2019 Globe Awards ceremony was a moment of celebration for the world's sports media after a sleepless night.

The Parisian night had not yet completely faded.

The headlines of major news organizations around the world have been dominated by the same name and the same news in an explosive manner.

"Yan Yuan, 19 years old, crowned with the Golden Ball! A new era has officially begun!"

The significance of this news goes far beyond the scope of a personal honor.

The focus of all global reporting has first and foremost been on two record-breaking numbers: 19 years old and those born in the 00s.

As the organizer of the Ballon d'Or, L'Équipe's front-page headline was steeped in history: "The Era of Yan Officially Begins!"

The article states: "When 19-year-old Yan Yuan received the Ballon d'Or from Drogba and Modric, an era was clearly marked."

He not only broke Ronaldo's record for the youngest Ballon d'Or winner, but also symbolized a profound shift in the power structure of the football world. The post-00 generation has officially stepped from looking to the future to taking center stage.

The Times of London used a more direct headline on its sports front page: "A prodigy becomes king, the first of the new generation."

The accompanying photo is a close-up of Yan Yuan holding up the Golden Globe Award, his eyes resolute, with a blurred background of a crowd cheering for him.

The commentary stated: "Yan Yuan's award is the fairest reward for his epic 2018-2019 season. 112 goals, sweeping all competition titles and winning the Golden Boot—this is one of the most dominant single-season performances in football history. He has redefined the word 'genius'."

While Spanish newspapers Marca and AS focused on reporting on their own country's star players, they also devoted considerable space to acknowledging Yan Yuan's excellence: Yan Yuan: The New King of World Football.

The Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport focused on Yan Yuan's impact on the football market: Yan Yuan, the value of a phenomenal player.

The German newspaper Bild's headline, imbued with Germanic rigor and astonishment, read: "Yan has shattered records in the new generation of football!"

The article provides a detailed analysis of Yan Yuan's growth trajectory from Hoffenheim to Arsenal, calling it "a perfect example of the combination of scientific youth training and top-tier league."

This is the case even in the top five European leagues.

Then, in England, where Yan Yuan played, the media praise reached its peak.

This is not only a glory for the club, but also a source of pride for all of English football.

Arsenal Football Club's official social media accounts posted more than ten updates, celebrating this historic moment from different perspectives.

Today, Arsenal's homepage is filled with reports about Yan Yuan.

The official website's headline reads: "History is written by him! Our captain, our number 7, Ballon d'Or winner—Yan Yuan!"

The accompanying photo shows Yan Yuan holding the Golden Globe trophy.

The club also released a meticulously produced video that reviewed the highlights since Yan Yuan joined the team and the blessings from his teammates in the locker room. The background music was rousing and the video was highly emotionally moving.

The Football Association (FA) also immediately posted a congratulatory message: "Congratulations to Yan Yuan on winning the 2019 Ballon d'Or! This is recognition of your extraordinary achievements. You are inspiring all young players in world football. You are the pride of English football, and the Three Lions are incredibly proud of you!"

What's even more noteworthy is that numerous star players, both teammates and opponents, publicly liked and commented on the post on their personal social media accounts, demonstrating a positive professional atmosphere and respect for excellence.

Salah posted a photo of himself with Yan Yuan at the awards ceremony on Instagram, with the caption: "Well deserved, brother! Competing against you was a challenge, but also a pleasure. Congratulations!"

Yan Yuan replied, "Thank you, Salah, you'll always be a role model!"

De Bruyne tweeted: "Well deserved winner! An incredible season! Enjoy this moment, young man! There's a long road ahead."

It was accompanied by clapping and trophy emojis.

Kane also displayed great sportsmanship, posting: "Although Yan and I are club rivals, I must pay tribute to Yan's performance last season; he set a new standard. Congratulations on winning the Ballon d'Or; you deserve it."

Below this comment, there are both mixed feelings from Tottenham fans and praise for Kane's magnanimity.

Rashford, also a national team teammate, commented more warmly: "My brother! So happy for you! I knew how special you were from the first day of national team training. The Ballon d'Or is just the beginning! @YanYuan #ThreeLions"

Bellingham also liked the post and commented, adding a picture as well.

The picture he chose was special; it was a match photo of Yan Yuan during his time in the Birmingham youth training program, which he specifically asked their coach for.

The comment read: "Senior, you will always be a star in Birmingham's youth academy, and also a role model for me to keep moving forward. I salute you."

Even some retired legends, such as Henry and Van Persie, expressed their congratulations through television programs or social media.

Henry said emotionally on Sky Sports: "As a senior at Arsenal, watching him play sometimes makes me forget that he was only 19 years old. His maturity, technique and mentality are phenomenal. He makes the Gunners proud."

These high praises from peers have further solidified the recognition and prestige of Yan Yuan's award.

Yan Yuan carefully replied to each of these comments.

……

In China, the frenzy surrounding Yan Yuan's Golden Globe win can only be described as an "explosion".

This has long transcended the scope of sports news and become a social event.

The homepage headlines and news app push notifications of all portal websites were dominated by "Yan Yuan Golden Globe Awards".

Among the top ten trending topics on Weibo, five are related: #YanYuanGoldenBallAward#, #YanYuan19YearOldGoldenBallAward#, #ThreeLionsRealPlayer#, #ArsenalNumber7#, and #CaptainYan#.

The topic garnered billions of views in just a few hours.

On many forums and in the comment sections, fans and Yan Yuan's admirers left their comments.

"Well, it's nothing really. It's just that our team has a 19-year-old Ballon d'Or winner who scores goals like crazy and leads the team to championships. It's nothing, nothing at all. [doge emoji]"

"Yan Shen's only club honor is the Club World Cup. Next, it's the national team's turn. With Yan Shen in the Three Lions for next year's European Championship, I feel like the championship is a sure thing. Nanmen, don't do anything crazy this European Championship. Just give the ball to Yan Shen."

"To be honest, we've all gotten used to Messi and Ronaldo's dominance for over a decade, but Yan Yuan winning the award this year is truly unbelievable. His stats are so impressive, they even surpass the peak season stats of Messi and Ronaldo. Times have really changed!"

"Indeed, it used to be a Messi-Ronaldo duet, but this year it's a one-man show, and a crushing one at that."

Yan Yuan: I am not here to join you, I am here to end this era.

"Yan Shen should now be the only crown prince of the Three Lions. All the crown princes of other clubs have to take a backseat."

……

The more direct impact is reflected in the consumer market.

Yan Yuan's Arsenal No. 7 jersey sold out almost instantly through all official channels and authorized stores, and has been continuously out of stock.

On e-commerce platforms, the price of authentic jerseys has soared, yet they are still in short supply, while sales of custom T-shirts, scarves, and other merchandise bearing the "YAN 7" logo have also surged.

Adidas launched a special "Y7" Ballon d'Or commemorative edition football boot for Yan Yuan.

It has become the hottest sports item of the year, with long queues forming at specialty stores and online reservations reaching record numbers.

"Restock immediately! Restock as much as you have!" The president of Adidas Greater China issued a firm order at an internal meeting, his face beaming with barely suppressed joy.

Equally ecstatic were Yan Yuan's global sponsors, including Red Bull, CK, and Mercedes-Benz.

Following Yan Yuan's award, the marketing departments of these brands held emergency meetings.

An Adidas executive told his colleagues with relief, "Thank goodness, we withstood the pressure in the summer of 18 and signed a three-year contract with them. At the time, we thought the price was already very high, but now it seems like we got a bargain!"

Another executive gave a wry smile:

"As fortunate as I am, we can only expect to have two more years of peace. Given Yan Yuan's current momentum, when the contract expires in two years, the renewal negotiations... will be another battle."

Yan Yuan's father, that shrewd Mr. Yan, will definitely secure an unprecedented, astronomical contract for his son to match his 'Golden Ball' status.

Silence fell over the meeting room; everyone knew what was going on.

In a high-class conference room in the City of London, Yan's father was also having a meeting with several senior advisors.

On the table were the latest sales data reports from several core sponsors.

An advisor adjusted his glasses, unable to hide his excitement, and said to Yan's father:

"Boss, Yan's data is phenomenal! Sales of all the brands he endorses—Adidas, Mercedes, CK…—are skyrocketing. Especially Adidas, that Y7 sneaker is practically a money-printing machine!"

Yan's father nodded steadily, his face showing a mixture of relief and deep thought.

"This is what my son earned through hard work and good grades, but we must remain clear-headed."

He tapped the contract documents on the table and said,

"Most of the existing endorsement contracts were signed in the summer of 2018 when he was at the peak of his popularity. They are all three-year contracts, which seemed like great deals at the time, but now..."

Another consultant in charge of business negotiations chimed in, his tone a mixture of relief and urgency.

"Yes, it was the right decision for us to insist on a three-year term. If we had signed a five-year or longer term, we would be in a very passive position now."

With Yan Yuan's current Ballon d'Or win and his commercial value skyrocketing, we will have absolute control when his contract expires in two years.

A shrewd glint flashed in Yan's father's eyes.

"That's right. Adidas and Red Bull should be secretly glad that they secured the Ballon d'Or at a relatively 'cheap' price. The remaining two years of the contract are a golden window for us to accumulate capital and upgrade our brand level."

He paused, then continued,

"When we renegotiate next year, our goal will not be just to increase the amount. What we want to strive for is: first, a higher-level global ambassador title, not just a regional or product line endorsement; second, a voice in product design; and third, a deeper and more creative brand collaboration model, rather than simple image licensing."

Yan Yuan's commercial value has exploded exponentially following this Golden Globe Award.

He is no longer a "rising star with potential," but a true "global sports icon."

In the next endorsement negotiation, the initiative will be entirely in the hands of Yan Yuan's team.

……

In addition to contract business.

More symbolic honors followed.

Less than 24 hours after the Golden Globe Awards results were announced.

A contact from Madame Tussauds, a prominent institution in London’s Maryburn district, called Yan Yuan’s team.

Madame Tussauds, founded in 1835, is one of the world's most famous wax museums, renowned for its highly lifelike wax figures of celebrities.

The wax figures here include famous figures from various periods, both domestic and international, such as Michael Jackson, Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, and Michael Jordan.

Being featured in Madame Tussauds is considered one of the ultimate recognitions of a person's global fame and cultural influence.

This is Madame Tussauds' original quote.

"Hello, we cordially invite Mr. Yan Yuan to become a distinguished member of Madame Tussauds. We hope to have a life-size wax figure of Mr. Yan custom-made and placed in the Sports Celebrity section of the London Wing."

When Yan's father told Yan Yuan the news, he was at home enjoying a rare, lazy morning with Lin Jianwei.

He seemed somewhat surprised upon hearing the news, then a gentle smile appeared on his face.

"Madame Tussauds? That sounds interesting." He turned to Lin Jianwei, who was pouring him tea, and said jokingly.

"Weiwei, if you want to see me in the future, besides watching the game, you can also take a photo with me at the wax museum."

Lin Jianwei was amused by him and handed him the teacup.

"Then I'll have to see if they can mimic that arrogant expression you have after scoring a goal."

For Yan Yuan, this is not only a personal honor, but also a way to integrate the image of athletes into popular culture and inspire more young people.

A global media frenzy, industry peers' tributes, soaring commercial value, and the freezing of cultural symbols... all of this revolves around 19-year-old Yan Yuan.

At this moment, the golden football trophy in Yan Yuan's trophy cabinet weighs far more than just a few kilograms.