Awakening the Messi template, Florentino Pérez begs me to join Real Madrid

May 18, 2011.

Allianz Stadium in Sydney was humid and hot. The moment Wu Shi stepped off the bus, he felt like he had stepped into a giant steamer.

Even with the air conditioning on full blast in the locker room, sweat still poured out.

Head coach Lao Li pointed to the tactics board:

"They've all seen it clearly. The Indonesian team's video analysis shows their coach isn't stupid. They definitely studied the combination play between Wu Shi and Wu Lei in our last match against Australia."

The screen was playing highlights of the Indonesian team's defense.

Their defenders are not tall, but they are agile, ruthless, and like to double-team.

"Especially you, Takeshi."

Old Li's gaze swept over,

"You'll be under special scrutiny today. They might assign two or even three people to watch you."

Takeshi nodded. .

"But this is also an opportunity."

Old Li tapped the screen.

"They're marking you, so the other positions are open. Wu Lei, you need to take advantage of that and make more runs. Everyone else, shoot when you have the chance, don't hesitate!"

During warm-up, every time Wu Shi touched the ball, the boos were particularly loud.

"Did you hear that?" Chen Liang juggled the ball next to him.

"You've become public enemy number one today."

"normal."

Wu Shi stopped the ball on the instep. "The more they boo, the more afraid they are of me."

Wu Lei walked over and patted him on the shoulder: "Don't let the boos affect you. Just play like we usually do in practice."

"Understood, Brother Lei."

Game start.

Just as Lao Li predicted, the Indonesian team started the game with a tight defensive formation. Their 4-5-1 formation was extremely compressed, with the distance between the midfield line and the defensive line not exceeding twenty meters.

Wu Shi was always accompanied by two people—one who kept a close watch on him, and the other who protected him from the side and rear.

In the 8th minute, Wu Shi received the ball in midfield for the first time. As soon as he turned, Indonesia's number 6 closed in, his elbow subtly pressing against his waist. At the same time, number 13 approached from the side and behind, blocking his passing lane to the right.

[Double-person encirclement detected]

Recommendation: Return a safe ball.

Success rate: 93%

Wu Shi didn't pass the ball back. He flicked the ball to the left with his left foot, moving his body accordingly. Number 6 stayed close behind, and number 13 also moved over.

Just as the two were about to close in, Wu Shi suddenly flicked the ball from behind him to his right side with his right heel—at the same time, his body turned sharply to the right!

Crotch puncture!

The ball passed between number 6's legs, and Wu Shi brushed past his side. Number 13 was taken aback by his unexpected move and paused for a moment.

In that brief moment of opening, Wu Shi had already dribbled past.

"Beautiful!" the commentator exclaimed. "Wu Shi used a brilliant nutmeg to get rid of the double-team!"

But Indonesia's defense has more than two layers. Just as Wu Shi dribbled past two defenders, a third defender stepped in to cover.

In the attacking third, Wu Lei is moving towards the edge of the penalty area, raising his hand to ask for the ball.

Wu Shi saw it, but he also saw the defenders around Wu Lei – if he made a through pass, it would most likely be intercepted.

[Suggestion: Split the edges]

Success rate: 78%

Wu Shi chose another option.

He continued dribbling forward, drawing a third defender to challenge him. Just as the defender stretched out his leg, Wu Shi gently flicked the ball with his right foot—the ball went over the defender's head and landed on the edge of the penalty area.

It wasn't passed to Wu Lei, but rather into the path Wu Lei was running.

Wu Lei understood immediately and accelerated forward.

He was in position just as the ball bounced off the ground.

But the Indonesian defenders also realized the danger, and both of them rushed towards Wu Lei at the same time.

Wu Lei did not stop the ball.

The moment the ball bounced, he gently tapped it with the outside of his right foot—the ball struck the direction Wu Shi was running in.

Two-on-one after hitting the wall!

Wu Shi did not stop after passing the ball, but continued to move forward.

Wu Lei's touch was perfectly timed, bringing the ball to within two meters of him.

The Indonesian defense was disrupted by this series of passes. Wu Shi dribbled into the penalty area and, facing the onrushing goalkeeper, slotted a left-footed shot into the far corner.

The ball slipped past the goalkeeper's fingertips and nestled into the net.

1: 0!

The Chinese youth team took the lead after just 11 minutes!

After scoring, Wu Shi rushed towards Wu Lei, and the two embraced.

"Well done!"

Wu Shi shouted.

"Your positioning was even better!"

Wu Lei smiled and ruffled his hair.

The Indonesian fans in the stands fell silent instantly, leaving only the cheers of the Chinese students and local Chinese in the away team's stands.

Chen Liang ran up from the back and jumped onto Wu Shi's back:

"Wow, I'm totally convinced now. No wonder you can wear a size 9 when you're only 16!"

Old Li clapped enthusiastically on the sidelines. This goal was a perfect combination of individual ability and teamwork—Wu Shi broke through the double-team, Wu Lei made a brilliant pass, and Wu Shi calmly shot the ball.

After the restart, the Indonesian team was visibly flustered.

They didn't expect that the "Double Wu" teamwork had reached such a level of tacit understanding - without eye contact, one made a run and the other passed the ball, and they could tear apart the defense.

But the Indonesian coach quickly made adjustments. They stopped sticking to a defensive wall and started pressing high up the pitch, trying to disrupt the Chinese youth team's rhythm with a more aggressive defense.

In the 27th minute, Indonesia launched a quick counter-attack that created a threat.

Their left winger was extremely fast, breaking through the Chinese youth team's right flank defense and crossing the ball, which was headed towards goal by a player in the middle—just over the crossbar.

"Pay attention!" Old Li roared from the sidelines.

The Chinese youth team goalkeeper launched a long ball. Wu Lei won the first header in midfield and headed the ball to Wu Shi.

Wu Shi received the ball with his back to the basket and was once again double-teamed.

This time, he didn't choose to break through. Before the two players could close in, he flicked the ball sideways with his left foot to create space, and then sent a long pass over the top with his right foot.

The ball traced an arc in the air, precisely finding Chen Liang who was making a forward run.

Chen Liang received the ball on the right side of the penalty area, took a step to adjust, and then fired a shot.

The ball hit the side netting!

"Ah—!" Chen Liang clutched his head in regret.

"It's okay! Continue!"

Wu Shi gave him a thumbs up.

In the 35th minute of the match, the Chinese youth team won a free kick in the attacking third.

The position is on the right side of the penalty arc, about 25 meters from the goal. It's somewhat similar to the position in the previous match against Australia, but at a more off-center angle.

The Indonesian team formed a five-man wall, and the goalkeeper nervously directed their positioning.

Wu Shi and Wu Lei stand in front of the ball.

"You're here?" Wu Lei asked.

Wu Shi nodded. He placed the ball and took five steps back.

The system prompt appeared:

[Set Piece Analysis: Distance 25.3 meters, 28 degrees to the right]

[Height of the human wall: Average 1.79 meters]

[Goalkeeper positioning: slightly to the left, leaving more space for the far corner]

[Suggestion: Use the inside of your left foot to curl a shot, aiming for the top left corner of the goal]

Success rate: 52%

Wu Shi took a deep breath. He took a running start, three steps.

Stand firmly on your left foot and lean your body to the left. Swing your right leg—

At the moment of contact with the ball, there is a subtle change in the ankle.

The outside of the instep, near the ankle, adds strong sidespin and backspin to the ball.

The ball lifted off the ground.

It circled around the top of the human wall, then suddenly plummeted at its highest point, accompanied by a bizarre rotating trajectory—first rotating to the left, then suddenly turning right in front of the door!

The Indonesian goalkeeper completely misjudged the direction. He lunged to his left, but the ball flew towards the top right corner.

Blind spot!

2: 0!

"World wave——!"

The commentator's voice was almost cracking.

"Wu Shi! It's Wu Shi again! An unbelievable set piece! That curve defies the laws of physics!"

Wu Shi ran to celebrate with his arms outstretched, and his teammates rushed in from all directions.

"How did you kick that ball?!" Chen Liang hugged his neck. "Teach me! You have to teach me!"

Wu Lei laughed and said, "Your footwork is starting to resemble someone else's more and more."

Wu Shi knew who he was talking about, but he just smiled and said, "Luck, luck."

Before the end of the first half, the Indonesian team launched a fierce attack, but the Chinese youth team's defense was well-organized and did not give the opponent many opportunities.

With a 2-0 lead, the Chinese youth team went into halftime.

The atmosphere in the locker room was much more relaxed than in the last game.

Instead of offering much praise, Lao Li pointed out the problems: "2-0 isn't safe. Indonesia will definitely attack in the second half, so we need to be prepared to go toe-to-toe with them. We can't let our guard down in defense, especially on the flanks; they're very fast."

He looked at Wu Shi: "You played very well in the first half, but you were very tired. If you can't run anymore in the second half, signal for a substitution."

"I can keep going, coach."

"Okay." Old Li nodded. "In the second half, when they attack, there will be more space in their own half. Wu Lei, Wu Shi, seize the counter-attack opportunities."

The second half begins.

Just as Lao Li predicted, the Indonesian team substituted a defender for a striker, changing their formation to 4-4-2 and launching a full-scale attack.

In the 51st minute, Indonesia's relentless attack paid off. After a series of passes down the right flank, they crossed the ball, and their striker outjumped the Chinese youth team's center-back to head it into the net.

2: 1.

The stands erupted in cheers; Indonesian fans saw a glimmer of hope.

"Stay calm! Don't panic!" Old Li shouted from the sidelines.

After the restart, the Chinese youth team did not back down, but instead intensified their attack.

In the 58th minute, Wu Shi intercepted the ball in midfield and quickly dribbled forward. The Indonesian team's backline was wide open, with only three defenders.

Wu Shi dribbled the ball to the edge of the penalty area, attracting two defenders before passing the ball to Chen Liang, who was making a run down the right wing.

Chen Liang didn't try to take credit for himself; he immediately passed the ball across to the middle lane.

Wu Lei arrived quickly, but was surrounded by multiple defenders. His shot, though of average quality, was saved by the goalkeeper and went out of the penalty area. Wu Shi then got the ball back after landing.

He took the shot, and the opposing defenders were completely disoriented. However, the defenders all closed in, leaving no angle for him. He faked a shot and then passed the ball to Chen Liang at the far post, where Chen Liang headed it.

3: 1!

"Beautiful teamwork! This is a classic counter-attack goal!"

Wu Lei rushed towards the corner flag area to celebrate, then turned and pointed at Wu Shi and Chen Liang.

The score was back to two goals, and the Indonesian team's morale was clearly dampened.

But Indonesia did not give up. In the 67th minute, they scored with a long-range shot from a midfielder after a free-kick combination in the attacking third.

3: 2.

The suspense of the match has been reignited.

Coach Li made a substitution, replacing an exhausted midfielder with a defensive midfielder.

"Hold on! Twenty minutes left!" Wu Lei encouraged his teammates on the field.

In the 73rd minute, the Chinese youth team extended their lead again.

Wu Shi received the ball on the left wing. Facing the Indonesian full-back's defense, he changed direction twice in a row and suddenly accelerated down the wing to cross the ball.

The ball arced through the air and found Wu Lei precisely at the far post.

Wu Lei leaped high, outjumping the opposing defender, and headed the ball into the net.

4-2! Wu Lei scores his second goal!

"Wu Lei! Awesome! That's his second goal in this AFC U-19 Championship! And Wu Shi's assist has now reached his third!"

Wu Lei rushed towards Wu Shi, and the two embraced tightly.

"That was a great pass!" Wu Lei shouted in his ear.

"You did a great job!"

The match entered its final stages. The Indonesian team pressed forward aggressively, leaving a huge gap in their own half.

In the 85th minute, the Chinese youth team intercepted the ball in their own half and launched a quick counter-attack. After three passes and two turnovers, the ball reached Wu Shi's feet.

He dribbled the ball forward, and facing the last defender, instead of trying to beat him, he delivered a through pass.

Wu Lei understood perfectly, successfully broke the offside trap, and created a one-on-one opportunity.

Facing the onrushing goalkeeper, Wu Lei calmly slotted the ball into the far corner.

5: 2!

Hat-trick! Wu Lei completes a hat-trick! Wu Shi's assist has now reached his fourth!

The entire away team's stand erupted in cheers. The international students waved national flags and sang the national anthem.

Indonesian fans began to leave the stadium, and the outcome of the match was no longer in doubt.

In stoppage time, the Indonesian team had another attacking opportunity, but their shot was brilliantly saved by the Chinese youth team's goalkeeper.

The final whistle blew.

5-2! The Chinese youth team achieved a resounding victory!

The players rushed onto the field to celebrate. Wu Shi was surrounded by his teammates, and Chen Liang simply picked him up and carried him on his back.

"Four assists! One goal! You were phenomenal today!"

Wu Shi smiled, sweat dripping from his forehead. He was indeed tired, but he felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration.

In the mixed zone, reporters had been waiting for a long time.

Wu Shi and Wu Lei were interviewed together.

"Wu Lei, how does it feel to score a hat-trick today?"

Wu Lei wiped his sweat: "I'm very happy. But the credit goes to the whole team, especially Wu Shi, who passed me three good passes."

"Wu Shi, you contributed 4 assists and 1 goal today, participating in all of the goals. How do you feel about your performance today?"

Wu Shi thought for a moment and said, "It's alright. The main thing is that Lei Ge's positioning is good, so I just need to pass the ball to the right position."

How did you two develop such great chemistry? Did you practice regularly?

Wu Shi and Wu Lei exchanged a glance and smiled.

"I didn't specifically train for it," Wu Lei said. "Some things are just a feeling."

"Yes," Wu Shi added, "I know where Brother Lei will run, and he knows where I will pass the message. It's that simple."

Su Qing from *Football Weekly* squeezed to the front: "Wu Shi, you've scored directly from free kicks in two consecutive matches. Is this your secret weapon?"

"I guess so. I practice it during regular training."

"Could you share your practice methods?"

Wu Shi laughed: "Just kick more. The more you kick, the better you'll get the hang of it."

After the interview, on his way back to the locker room, Wu Shi received a notification from the system:

[Performance Assessment: S-level]

Assists: 4

[Goals: 1]

Key passes: 7

[Successful breakthroughs: 6 times]

Template integration accuracy improved to 2.1%

[Unlock new module: Set Piece Master (Beginner)]

The integration rate has exceeded 2%. Looking at this number, Wu Shi felt a complex mix of emotions—he hated Messi, yet he was playing football based on Messi's template; he wanted to prove that he was no worse than Messi, yet he was unknowingly becoming more and more like that person.

In the locker room, Coach Li praised the whole team, especially mentioning the cooperation between Wu Shi and Wu Lei.

"The next match is against Vietnam. A win or a draw will be enough to advance, and a win would likely secure first place in the group. But Vietnam is a tough opponent; they are technically gifted and fast. Get a good rest tonight, and we'll review the game tomorrow morning."

While showering, Wu Lei asked Wu Shi, "Are you tired?"

"A little."

"That's normal. International competitions are fast-paced and highly competitive. You're only sixteen, so this performance is already amazing."

"Brother Lei, how far do you think we can go?"

Wu Lei paused for a moment: "Let's see what happens in the next match. If we beat Vietnam, we'll advance as group winners, and the knockout stage might be a bit easier. But the level of Asian youth teams is quite high; Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia—none of them will be easy to beat."

"I want to qualify for the World Junior Championships."

"I'd like to too," Wu Lei smiled. "Then let's work hard together."

Back at the hotel that evening, Wu Shi lay in bed looking at his phone. His WeChat was flooded with unread messages.

Mom sent a voice message: "Son, I invited my coworkers to watch the game today! When you scored that free kick, the whole workshop was shouting! Take care of yourself, don't get injured!"

Zhang Hao sent a string of exclamation marks: "Shi Tou, you fucking went crazy today! Three assists! I can walk all over the company now, anyone who disagrees, I'll show them your goal video!"

There was also a friend request from Su Qing, with the note: "We'll talk about the interview when you get back to China."

Wu Shi's application was approved.

Soon after, Su Qing sent a message: "You did a fantastic job today! Get some rest, and I'm looking forward to your next performance."

"Thank you," Wu Shi replied.

"By the way, your free kicks have a really unique curve. Did you learn it from someone?"

Wu Shi thought for a moment and replied, "I figured it out myself."

That's the truth. Although the system offered suggestions, it was he who actually kicked that arc.

"Genius." Su Qing replied with a smiley face emoji.