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

The 2020-2021 Premier League season continues with difficulty, and Arsenal is making steady progress amidst fierce competition.

However, just as the season was entering its middle stage, a piece of news that had nothing to do with the battles on the field, but was enough to shake the entire football world, exploded like a thunderclap.

FIFA has officially announced that, given the current situation and considering the risks of in-person activities and the inconvenience caused by travel restrictions in various countries, the decision will be made in accordance with the relevant regulations.

After careful evaluation, it has been decided to cancel the FIFA Ballon d'Or award ceremony originally scheduled for this year.

The news caused an uproar worldwide.

Not only those in the football community, but also many people who don't usually follow sports news were surprised.

The Ballon d'Or, the highest individual honor in football, has never before been "prematurely" canceled since its inception.

In the past...

Even during times of war or other major crises, the selection process may be controversial, but the ceremony will always proceed in some form.

The cancellation of this season caught everyone off guard.

Amidst the astonishment and discussion, those most shocked and regretful were undoubtedly Arsenal supporters and Yan Yuan's massive fan base.

Because almost everyone knows it.

If it weren't for this sudden decision, the winner of the 2020 Globe Award would have been a foregone conclusion.

Looking back at the 2019-2020 season, what miracles did Yan Yuan and his Arsenal create?

An unprecedented five-time domestic champion in England: the UEFA Super Cup, the Community Shield, the League Cup, the FA Cup, the Premier League, and the most prestigious UEFA Champions League title.

Arsenal ultimately achieved the glorious feat of winning six titles.

Yan Yuan himself has achieved what can be described as the most terrifying attacking statistic in football history: a staggering 123 goals in all official matches!

This is not just a number; it is an astronomical figure that breaks all perceptions and shatters all records.

He almost swept the Premier League, Champions League, and European Golden Boot awards, achieving a perfect balance between his individual performance and team honors.

In the predictions of almost all professional media, commentators, and fans, the outcome of the Ballon d'Or was already a foregone conclusion by the end of the season—the name "Yan Yuan" had long been engraved on that golden football trophy.

He will win the Golden Globe Award for the second time.

But now, a FIFA announcement has made all of this seem like "how it should be".

Yan Yuan unwittingly became the biggest "victim" of this cancellation.

He missed a moment when he would be officially crowned king under the spotlight and in the eyes of the world.

A night of glory that should have been his, a night to celebrate with his teammates, family, and fans, vanished so easily.

……

When the news reached the Colney training ground in London, the players had just finished a high-intensity training session.

In the locker room, everyone was relaxing and chatting.

When the news notification appeared on the phone screen, the previously noisy locker room instantly fell silent.

All eyes, unanimously and with a mixture of worry and resentment, turned to Captain Yan Yuan, who was tidying up his sneakers.

Saka opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know how to start.

Aubameyang frowned and muttered a curse under his breath.

"FIFA is an absolute idiot..."

The veteran's experience told him what this meant for a player aiming for the top.

Rice and Rodri exchanged a glance, both seeing regret in each other's eyes.

They all felt sorry for Yan Yuan.

Yan Yuan was tying his shoelaces when he suddenly sensed the unusual atmosphere. He looked up and saw his teammates staring at him, and smiled with some confusion.

"What's wrong? Why are you all staring at me? Is there any grass clippings on my face from training?"

"Captain..." Erdgor handed over his phone, the screen displaying the explosive news.

Yan Yuan took the phone, quickly glanced at the contents, and the expression on his face... was beyond everyone's expectations.

There was no shock, no anger, not even obvious disappointment.

He merely raised an eyebrow, gave a soft "oh," and then handed the phone back to Erdgao, continuing to bend down and tie his shoelaces as if he had only seen an insignificant weather forecast.

His calmness only made his teammates more bewildered.

The captain's reaction was so calm!

The one most worried about Yan Yuan was actually Nagelsmann.

Nash was well aware of the recognition and affirmation that the Ballon d'Or represented for a player, especially one like Yan Yuan who was about to reach his peak.

He was worried that this unexpected setback would affect his beloved student's mentality and state of mind.

So, after most of the players had left, Nagelsmann specifically called Yan Yuan to his office.

"Yan, sit down." Nagelsmann gestured to the chair in front of his desk, then leaned back against the edge, trying to start the conversation in a relaxed tone.

"How was training today? I noticed your last sprint was still incredibly fast. Wearing a mask didn't seem to completely limit your running speed."

"It's alright, Coach, I'm used to it. It's just that I sweat a lot, and my mask gets wet quickly." Yan Yuan sat down with a smile, looking completely at ease.

Nagelsmann carefully observed his expression and decided to get straight to the point.

"Um...you...saw the news about the Golden Globe Awards, right?"

"I see, Coach. Is there anything strange?" Yan Yuan nodded, his expression unchanged.

"Hmm... Yan, I know this might sound a bit cliché, but I want to say that in my heart, in the hearts of all my teammates, and in the hearts of everyone who truly understands football, you are this year's Ballon d'Or winner, without a doubt." Nagelsmann's tone was sincere.

"That trophy was just late, or perhaps it exists in a different form. Your performance, the honors you brought to the team, cannot be erased by anything. I hope you don't dwell too much on this formality..."

"Coach," Yan Yuan suddenly spoke up, interrupting Nagelsmann's prepared words of comfort, his face showing a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

"You don't actually think this will ruin my mindset, do you?"

Nagelsmann was taken aback by the question.

"I...I'm just worried you'll feel it's unfair."

Yan Yuan laughed, a clear and open laugh, without a trace of gloom.

"To be honest, Coach, I was a little surprised when I first saw the news. I thought FIFA's move was quite...unique. But I was only surprised for a few seconds."

However, think about it, the Golden Globe trophy, to put it bluntly, is just a piece of gold-plated metal, a nicely designed cup.

Yan Yuan paused, then continued in a relaxed tone:

"With that trophy, will my 123 goals become 124? Or, without that trophy, will the Premier League trophy and the Champions League trophy in our club museum disappear?"

No way. My technique, my speed, my goals, and the six championships our whole team fought for—these are real achievements, seen and remembered by the fans. These things are more valuable than ten Ballon d'Or trophies.

Yan Yuan pointed out the window towards the training ground.

"Moreover, we have the league title to defend and the Champions League title to defend. We don't have that much time to worry about whether or not to award a trophy."

The team's performance is the most important thing. If not winning a trophy affects our performance, that would be a huge loss, and we would be letting down our teammates and you.

Nagelsmann looked at Yan Yuan, at his young yet remarkably mature face, and listened to his clear logic and calm demeanor. The weight that had been hanging over him finally lifted, replaced by a strong sense of admiration and emotion.

Nagelsmann's first reaction was:

My beloved student has really grown up.

Nash shook his head and laughed self-deprecatingly.

"Okay, it seems I, as the coach, have been overthinking things and narrow-minded. I had prepared a whole bunch of motivational words to comfort you."

Yan Yuan responded humorously.

"Coach, save your pep talk for when you need to boost morale before the next game. In this situation, I think we should pop some champagne to celebrate."

"Oh? What are you celebrating?" Nagelsmann asked curiously.

"Let's celebrate FIFA making things easier for us!" Yan Yuan joked in a serious tone.

"Just imagine, if an awards ceremony were to be held, I would have to fly there, wear an uncomfortable suit, sit there for hours, and prepare an acceptance speech. How tiring that would be."

Now it's so much better, all this trouble is gone, I can sleep in a little longer, or practice an extra set of shooting. Isn't that something to celebrate?

Nagelsmann burst into laughter at his absurd reasoning, and the atmosphere in the office instantly became relaxed and pleasant.

"Hahahaha... Good! Well said! Yan, your mentality is even stronger than mine, someone who has been a coach for over ten years! It seems I have a lot to learn from you in the future."

The master and disciple chatted for a few more minutes before Yan Yuan got up and left.

Looking at his beloved student's tall and confident back, Nagelsmann felt a sense of satisfaction.

He realized that Yan Yuan's strength lay not only in his terrifying skills and physical abilities, but also in his clear-headed, open-minded, and ever-focused inner strength.

Such a player is destined for greatness.

……

Yan Yuan may appear calm and collected, but the outside world is far from peaceful.

English media were the first to fire their criticism.

The Times commented: "This is a mockery of football! Yan Yuan deserves a proper coronation!"

The Daily Mail went even further: "Disgrace! FIFA has robbed Yan Yuan of his moment of glory! This trophy is owed to Yan Yuan!!"

Online, Arsenal fans and Yan Yuan's fans were in an uproar.

"FIFA has no shame! I can understand canceling the in-person event, but can't they do it online? Couldn't they at least record a video announcement? They could at least let everyone know the rankings. Announced they're canceling it altogether—that's outrageous!"

"Yan Shen: I worked hard all season, scored 123 goals, and won six titles, and now you're telling me the trophies are gone? FIFA, RNM, refund my money!"

"This is blatant corruption! Are they afraid that if Yan Shen wins the Golden Globe a second time, some people will lose face? Who's pulling the strings?"

"My heart aches for Yan Shen! FIFA is blind! In my heart, you are the Ballon d'Or winner this year! The greatest of all time!"

"FIFA's move can be called the most baffling behavior of the year. Yan Yuan has become the biggest victim, but it has also shown us what it means to be an 'uncrowned king'."

Domestic social media was abuzz with outrage, with hashtags such as #YanYuanGoldenBallAward# and #FIFAOwesYanYuanAnApology# dominating the trending topics.

Yan Yuan's fans, known as "Yan Si," expressed their dissatisfaction and support in various ways.

Faced with overwhelming regret and condemnation.

Ultimately, Yan Yuan published a long post on his personal social media platform, expressing his stance:

Hello everyone, I've seen a lot of concern and support from friends regarding the recent news about the Golden Globe Awards, and I'm very grateful for everyone's kindness.

First of all, I would like to say that being discussed and recognized by everyone is already a great honor.

The beauty of football lies in the team, in the process, and in every moment we create together. Last season, my teammates and I worked hard to bring Arsenal unprecedented honors. That experience and those trophies are the most valuable assets of my career, far more important than any individual award.

The Ballon d'Or is a great honor, but ultimately it's just an award, an outcome. For me, the sweat I shed on the training field every day, the struggle I put in on the pitch, and every time I fought alongside my teammates—these are the true driving forces that propel me forward. Awards may be absent for various reasons, but the effort, growth, and team success will never be erased.

My worth doesn't need a trophy to define it. The applause of the fans, the trust of my teammates, and the victories we've won together—these are the true measures of my worth.

I hope everyone won't feel regret or anger about this. Let's turn our attention to the future, to the upcoming matches. Our story continues to be written. Thank you again to everyone! Love, Yan Yuan.

The post instantly garnered millions of likes and shares.

Yan Yuanping's calm, open-minded, grateful, and unwavering attitude has earned him wider praise from the industry and fans.

This post truly showcased Yan Yuan's maturity and open-mindedness to the fans.

"Yan Shen is awesome! (Voice cracks) This is the true mentality of a football king! What are awards? I play football to win championships!"

"I'm moved to tears, brothers! Yan Shen's speech was so mature it's heartbreaking! He's truly broadened his horizons!"

"Compared to some people who fight over personal honors all year round, Yan Shen's level is so much higher. I won't say more, the Golden Globe winner is still yours."

"Strictly: The awards may be absent, but I and my championships will not. FIFA, aren't you embarrassed?"

"I used to admire Yan Yuan's skills, but now I'm completely in awe of him as a person! He deserves his success!"

Despite this incident, Yan Yuan's image was not damaged by "losing" the Golden Globe Award; on the contrary, his extraordinary mindset and broad perspective made him even more admirable.

Through his actions and words, he demonstrated what it means to be "unperturbed by honor or disgrace" and what true strength is.

In the hearts of fans, he is already the uncrowned king who needs no Ballon d'Or to prove himself.

Under the leadership of this experienced leader, Arsenal continues to steadily move towards higher goals.

A true king always looks ahead, not at empty fame behind him.