32. The Crown and the Fire
A hush fell as Zinedine Zidane stepped onto the stage, his presence a quiet storm. His tailored suit moved with him like a second skin, and his eyes, sharp yet warm, scanned the room with the weight of a man who’d shaped the game. The crowd leaned forward, drawn to the legend whose elegance on the pitch had become myth. Zidane gripped the podium, his voice ready to set the tone for a night of history.
“When I see these players, I see elegance, determination, mastery,” Zidane began, his French accent lending each word a melodic gravitas. “The Ballon d’Or isn’t just about talent—it’s about leadership, passion, how you lift those around you. These men don’t just play the game; they redefine it.” His words carried the echo of his own triumphs, a reminder that the award was a torch passed from one era to the next, illuminating the path for those who dared to chase greatness.
Nominees:
Daniel Caos(England, Real Madrid)
Kylian Mbappé (France, PSG)
Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
Jack Aniston (France, Barcelona)
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium, Manchester City)
Vinícius Jr. (Brazil, Real Madrid)
Antoine Griezmann (France, Atlético Madrid)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
Bernardo Silva (Portugal, Manchester City)
?Winner: Caos (Spain, Real Madrid)
“Honestly… I don’t have the words. To play for Real Madrid, to wear that badge, to share the field with giants — and now to win this — it’s beyond everything I dreamed of. Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. We improve ourselves by victory over our self. There must be contests, and you must win.This is for my family, for Spain, and for every kid who’s told they’re too young. “Defeat is for the valiant. Only they will know the honour of losing and the joy of winning
I am not here to tell you that defeat is a part of life: we all know that. Only the defeated know Love. Because it is in the realm of love that we fight our first battles – and generally lose.
I am here to tell you that there are people who have never been defeated.
They are the ones who never fought.
They managed to avoid scars, humiliations, feelings of helplessness, as well as those moments when even warriors doubt the existence of God.
Trust your grind. Thank you, Madrid. I love you. Kao! Kao! Kao!
As Caos descended the stage, the applause still thundering, he passed Salma’s table. She leaned forward, her voice low but teasing: “Nice orb, Madrid boy. Crossbar duel’s still on—don’t think this gets you out of paying.” Caos chuckled, his eyes holding hers for a beat longer than necessary. “I don’t lose twice in one night,” he shot back, his tone light but laced with challenge.
The exchange was brief, but the room noticed, reporters already spinning stories of a budding rivalry—or something more. Maat, watching from his seat, felt the moment like a shift in the wind. Caos’s victory wasn’t just a personal triumph; it was a challenge to everything Maat had built. The gala continued, but the air crackled with unspoken promises—of duels, of dinners, of battles yet to come.
Caos returned to his table, the golden orb heavy in his hands, the weight of his journey heavier still. Mbappé clapped him on the shoulder, Vinícius Jr. grinning beside him, their camaraderie a shield against the world. But Caos’s thoughts lingered on two figures: Maat, whose silent challenge promised another reckoning, and Salma, whose smirk hinted at a game he hadn’t yet played. The gala’s lights dimmed, but the fire in Caos burned brighter than ever. This was his night, but the war—and the duel—were far from over.
To be continued..