Chapter 41 – Heat from the Shadow
The next morning arrived heavy with São Paulo’s humidity, the kind that stuck to skin before sunrise. Thiago stood beneath the awning outside the Palmeiras dormitory, waiting for the shuttle to the training ground. His kit bag weighed more than it should have. Not because of gear—he carried the same boots, the same socks—but because his mind felt crowded.
He had played well again. Not exceptionally, not brilliantly. But well. Structure, movement, balance. Everything Eneas wanted. He’d made the smart passes, kept composure, and even earned subtle praise from the coaching staff. It was the kind of performance that was supposed to build confidence.
But as he scrolled through sports headlines on his phone while waiting, reality tilted the scales.
"NEYMITE STRIKES AGAIN: Neymar Jr. Scores Double in Santos’ Comeback Win""Is Neymar Already the Paulista’s Best Teen Talent?""From Vila Belmiro to the World – Neymar’s Surge Begins"
Thiago stared at the headlines, thumb frozen mid-scroll.
He had seen clips of Neymar’s latest display—fluid movement, audacious stepovers, a chipped assist, and a curling finish that silenced the away crowd. The 16-year-old had made his senior debut earlier in the year. Now, in early March 2009, he was turning matches, dictating tempo, commanding the spotlight. Everything Thiago had been taught to build toward, Neymar seemed to already own.
The bus ride was quiet. Rafael sat beside him, watching the city blur past the tinted windows. Occasionally, the silence between them pulsed with unspoken thoughts. Rafael finally broke it.
"You’ve seen the clips?"
Thiago nodded.
"He’s different," Rafael said. "But not untouchable."
Thiago didn’t answer. He wasn’t sure if he agreed.