"Diego!"
"Diego Maradona!"
"The King of Football has arrived!"
Leo Lin hurriedly opened the skill description. Beneath the attribute panel, the Diego Maradona skill radiated a black-gold glow.
Host: Leo Lin
Height: 1.86 m
Weight: 82 kg
Penalty Area Shooting: 84
Long-Range Shooting: 89
Attacking Positioning: 82.9
Short Passing: 84
Vision: 85.7
Heading: 79
Stamina: 87
Speed: 84
Interception: 81
Defensive Positioning: 82.8
Dribbling: 85
Strength: 92.6
Crossing: 79.2
Long Pass: 84
Several attributes had improved again, but there was still plenty of room for growth in areas like crossing, heading, and interception.
And next came the most crucial part. The long-awaited Maradona skill.
"Diego Maradona Platinum Skill: Ball-Heart, Guitar-Soul!"
"Ball-Heart, Guitar-Soul Active Skill: When the host dribbles and attempts a breakthrough, the speed of center-of-gravity shifts increases by 15%, and body balance increases by 20%!"
"Ball-Heart, Guitar-Soul Passive Skill: ????"
"Activation Condition: ????"
Leo Lin was thrilled at first, then froze.
Active skills were something he was already familiar with, like Pirlo's passing or David Silva's left foot.
But Diego Maradona's skill directly enhanced his center of gravity and balance during dribbling.
With his current explosiveness, combined with strength, balance, and rapid shifts in center of gravity, Leo Lin couldn't imagine who could stop him one-on-one once he drove forward with the ball.
What puzzled him was the passive skill. It was the first time he had encountered one, and all he could see were question marks. Both its effect and its activation conditions were completely unknown.
With a hint of confusion, Leo Lin decided not to dwell on it and instead focused on enjoying the boost from the "Ball-Heart, Guitar-Soul" skill.
The knockout stage was about to begin, and he had just obtained his first reward from the grand prize pool.
Next, he would charge into the World Cup knockout rounds in peak condition, with even greater strength, fighting to reach the pinnacle of the world.
July 5, 8:00 a.m.
Spain's massage room.
"Neymar again. One-on-one on the wing!"
"He cuts inside!"
"Shot!!!"
"Ochoa makes the save!!!"
Watching Ochoa pull off his sixth save, Leo Lin couldn't help but laugh.
This goalkeeper had a well-known nickname, "San Ochoa."
This was the first Round of 16 match in the right half of the bracket. Brazil versus Mexico.
The game had reached the 60th minute, and the score was still 0-0.
Spain were watching closely because the winner of this match would be their opponent in the quarterfinals.
Of course, that depended on Spain winning their own Round of 16 match.
"Do you think Brazil can finish it in regular time?" Thiago looked at Leo Lin.
"Probably. But Neymar needs to create a goal soon."
"You can't let it drag in the World Cup. The longer it goes, the more problems come up."
Leo Lin had been observing Brazil's style. Every player carried that signature flair and fluidity.
Especially Neymar.
A true football genius.
"He's full of feints from head to toe," Sergio Ramos said as he walked into the massage room, sipping black tea with lemon and milk, while holding another cup out to Leo Lin.
"A forward like him is the hardest to defend inside the box. You can't let him get close."
Thiago stared longingly as Leo Lin took the tea, the aroma drifting through the air.
"Captain, what about mine?"
Sergio Ramos kept his eyes on the match and replied without turning around.
"If you want some, go get it yourself. I've only got two hands."
Thiago pouted.
"Yeah right. Everyone knows you favor Lin."
"Lin, let me have a sip. Just one."
More Spanish players gradually gathered in the massage room, chatting and watching the match together.
By the 70th minute, the score was still unchanged.
Just as Leo Lin thought the game would end in a draw, Filipe suddenly accelerated down the wing, and Neymar quickly drifted wide.
Brazil's formation shifted instantly. Neymar moved from the center to the flank and, with teammates covering for him, burst into the penalty area.
Filipe delivered a lofted through pass from the wing. Neymar controlled it mid-air and immediately followed with a shot. The control and shot flowed seamlessly, without the slightest hesitation.
From first touch to shot, the entire sequence took just one second. That brilliant connection finally broke through Mexico's defense and beat Ochoa.
The Spanish players nodded in appreciation.
Busquets and others had played with Neymar before. They knew exactly how dangerous he was.
The opening goal broke the deadlock, and in a match like this, it was decisive.
From that moment on, the momentum tilted toward Brazil.
In the 89th minute, Fernandinho struck from distance and scored, sealing the result at 2-0.
When the final whistle blew, Brazil celebrated wildly.
Leo Lin then switched to the other match. Croatia versus France had just ended, with Croatia falling to the French side.
Derek Rae was delivering the closing commentary.
"After 90 minutes of battle, unfortunately, Croatia's journey in this World Cup comes to an end."
"They fall to France. The 4-2 scoreline reflects the game."
"Modrić, Rakitić… they now leave the World Cup stage."
"Croatia's passion for football is beyond imagination."
"For them, football is a true war. It is their faith."
"Luka Modrić. A shepherd boy who rose from the ruins."
"There are lines in the Croatian national anthem that describe him perfectly."
"When the sun kisses his homeland, when the winds sweep through his oaks."
"His heart will always beat in rhythm for Croatia!"
"I think that is what Modrić means to football!"
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
"July 5th, 10:30 p.m."
"One of the greatest midfielders on this planet, Luka Modrić."
"Eliminated!"
Watching Luka Modrić's exit, Leo Lin let out a quiet sigh. As a fellow midfielder, he deeply admired him.
"Don't worry. We'll win," Sergio Ramos said, patting him on the shoulder.
"With you here. With me here. With all of us here."
The 2018 World Cup knockout stage had captured everyone's attention. With the final 16 teams confirmed, media outlets and fans began analyzing each team's core players and current squads.
After Modrić's elimination, World Football Daily released a video montage featuring players from all 16 teams, with the caption:
"Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Luis Suárez, Luka Modrić, Ivan Rakitić, Thomas Müller, Andrés Iniesta, Gareth Bale, Pepe…
Some of them have already departed. Some are still holding on. Four years from now, we don't know if they will still appear on the World Cup stage. Even if they do, age will mean they are no longer at their peak.
For them, this World Cup is the final Battle of the Gods. A golden memory for our generation."
Title:
"Twilight of the Gods!"