Based on Jin Hayes's experience, the max-level talents brought by his unique ability could form a talent enhancement when his will and determination reached a critical point. Previously, the max-level technical talents like "Heartfelt Pass," "Causality Shot Enhancement," and "Defensive Prediction" could be triggered under specific conditions during a match.
Therefore, Jin Hayes had already suspected that max-level physical talents would also trigger enhancements. It wasn't until this Champions League qualifier against Atlético Madrid that he triggered it for the first time.
Recalling the situation just now, Diego Forlán had been only centimetres away from scoring with a header. A quarter of a second later, Forlán would have already finished his goal celebration. Trailing 1–3 at home was an unacceptable situation for Borussia Dortmund, especially with the away goals rule in effect.
Jin Hayes, being the closest defender, took the initiative, possessing a strong desire and determination to prevent the goal. His jumping ability, normally average, had completely surpassed Forlán's leap, allowing him to perform an "aerial steal" over the Uruguayan's head, heading the ball clear and ultimately launching the counter-attack that led to the equaliser.
So, is this an advancement of a max-level physical talent—'Jump Enhancement'?
After the goal celebration ended, Atlético Madrid had already restarted the match and launched an attack. Jin Hayes intended to verify it during play.
Soon, the opportunity arrived.
"The match has reached the 75th minute, and both teams are still tied. Borussia Dortmund, after equalising, haven't rushed to attack; they are playing very patiently."
"Atlético Madrid are also very cautious, relying only on their two strikers for attack, with everyone else staying back to defend."
"The advantage of two away goals makes Atlético Madrid fearless. They have set up a solid defensive 'bus' away from home. Borussia Dortmund will find it difficult to penetrate with just passing; perhaps only Jin Hayes's individual breakthrough can break the deadlock."
German commentator Mehmet Scholl, seeing the current stalemate, couldn't help but worry for Dortmund. Dragging the game to the end was not very favourable for the home side. In the second leg at the opponent's ground, Atlético Madrid could even draw 1–1 and still eliminate Dortmund on away goals. The opponent was a team that could contend with Real Madrid and Barcelona. The currently inexperienced Borussia Dortmund needed to win at home.
The key figure was still Jin Hayes. He might be the only variable.
The Madrid TV commentator shared the same assessment: "Atlético Madrid's defence is very solid. They should play like this, making the opponent anxious and prone to mistakes. We only need to neutralise the Asian player to contain the entire Borussia Dortmund team!"
"Simão, dribbling past midfield—he's beaten Reus! Simão, Simão! Simão!!!"
Accompanied by the Spanish commentator's rapid-fire commentary, Atlético Madrid broke through on the right wing. Just as Simão was about to pass to Agüero, the young Marcel Schmelzer, making his first-team debut, stepped forward.
"OHHH—No—Schmelzer! A beautiful sliding tackle to intercept the ball, giving it to Reus!"
"Dortmund's counter-attack—Reus, Şahin, Reus, Jin!!!"
The quick passing sequence reached the final third. The moment the ball was played to Jin Hayes, the Spanish commentator's pitch shot up an octave, his panic evident. The 16-year-old was simply a nightmare for the Spanish.
However, Reus's pass was slightly hurried, interfered with by the opposing full-back. In his haste, he sent a half-volley at chest height—impossible to head down, and difficult to control with the feet. Maniche and Paulo Assunção simultaneously pressed forward to double-team Jin Hayes. At the same time, strikers Agüero and Forlán immediately closed in from behind.
An ordinary player facing this ball would have to chest it down. Touching the ball more than twice would result in being surrounded by four players, losing all space to manoeuvre.
"Jin is surrounded! A chance for a steal and counter-attack!" The Spanish commentator was already envisioning the breakaway.
German commentator Scholl grew anxious for Jin Hayes. "It's over—Reus didn't pass that ball well!"
The Westfalen crowd was on tenterhooks. Even a player of Ronaldinho's calibre would have found this situation difficult.
Jin Hayes had already dropped back to the centre circle. If the ball was intercepted, Atlético Madrid's counter-attack would be deadly.
Just when everyone was worrying for Jin Hayes, he showed no emotional fluctuation when facing the encirclement, as if he hadn't even seen Reus's pass, still facing the goal.
"Hmph, still pretending?" Maniche could already anticipate the counter-attack after the steal. Just as he was about to push past Jin Hayes, the teenager's handling of the ball struck him like lightning.
"What?! Where's the ball?!"
Maniche only saw the ball magically disappear the moment it arrived. Jin Hayes had already turned and moved around from the side. On the other side, Paulo Assunção was sweating profusely, just catching Jin Hayes's cold, razor-sharp gaze. Figures flickered. Assunção could only watch helplessly as both the ball and the player slipped past him on either side. He had never been toyed with like this in his ten-year professional career. He was completely helpless.
"Holy shit!!! A masterclass performance!!" Scholl was stunned. He had been commentating on Jin Hayes's matches for half a season and hadn't expected such a new level of brilliance.
The Westfalen crowd rose to their feet, gasping in amazement. Jin Hayes's calm and elegant handling ignited the entire stadium.
Everyone saw it clearly. Facing the half-volley, Jin Hayes had actually trapped the ball with his back. He elegantly waltzed past Maniche, hooked the ball with his ankle before it landed, then lightly flicked it over Paulo Assunção, completing a perfect take-on. He had dribbled past two opponents without the ball ever touching the ground. Such fancy footwork in a high-intensity professional match made it look easier than drinking water.
Terrifying.
In an unnoticed corner of the stands, a football-loving artist watched the scene with wide eyes. Jin Hayes's dribbling move left a deep impression that would later inspire the artist's work. A decade later, fans would marvel at how such seemingly impossible moves could ever occur on a real football pitch—and the artist would always say: "I saw it with my own eyes. My drawing contained no exaggeration whatsoever."
Back on the pitch, Jin Hayes's back-trap and chip-and-run had instantly broken through Atlético Madrid's midfield barrier. He dribbled alone towards the penalty area. The iron barrel formation's balance was shattered. An alarm sounded in Atlético Madrid's defensive third.
Just as the defenders all rushed towards Jin Hayes, he delivered a despair-inducing through ball.
"Jin!! Excellent vision—a clever through ball piercing the flank! Jakub Błaszczykowski receives the ball and breaks into the box!"
Jin Hayes's performance in this attack was already perfect; he could have simply dribbled past everyone by himself. But Jakub Błaszczykowski, unmarked in the box, had a lot more to consider. Glancing at the goalkeeper's position, he shot towards the top corner of the far post, attempting to curl it around the keeper.
Bang!
"Oh no!!! Jakub Błaszczykowski's shot!!" Scholl clutched his head in anguish. A shot meant to score, yet it had hit the post. Heitinga, tracking back at high speed, didn't dare to take chances and kicked the ball out for a corner.
"Borussia Dortmund corner—Atléti escape!" "Jin Hayes's handling couldn't have been more perfect. It's just a shame the final shot lacked a bit of luck."
The fans in the stands were all very disappointed; they could have taken the lead. Atlético Madrid players, on the other hand, were still shaken, each with chills down their spines, breathing heavily. Jin Hayes's magnificent performance in midfield just now, including the final through ball into the empty flank, had almost made them surrender. Facing such a god-like opponent, only divine intervention could save their goal. Fortunately, on that occasion, the woodwork was on Atlético Madrid's side.
"I'm sorry, Jin. I rushed the shot—" Jakub Błaszczykowski was very self-reproachful. He had wasted Jin Hayes's perfect setup; otherwise, this would have been a Goal of the Year contender.
"It's alright. We still have a chance to take the lead." Jin Hayes, however, offered a magnanimous comfort with a faint smile. His calm and confident demeanour filled his Dortmund teammates with belief. As long as Jin Hayes didn't give up, the Black and Yellows always had a chance to create a miracle.
Nuri Şahin carried the ball to the corner flag, raised both hands to give a signal. This was a pre-planned set-piece routine—the ball would be delivered to the back post. All Dortmund players were already positioned in the penalty area. Some feinted at the near post. Most Atlético Madrid players also defended the near post. Hummels, Subotić, Alexander Frei—these aerial threats were all worth marking.
As for Jin Hayes at the back post—would he contest a header? No way.
Only the Argentine winger Maxi Rodríguez, roughly 180cm tall, was marking the 185cm Jin Hayes. Rodríguez looked at the relaxed Chinese player standing beside him, seeing that he didn't seem to be challenging for the ball, and felt temporarily relieved. Even if Şahin's corner kick went to the back post, Rodríguez was confident. He jumped—but Jin Hayes didn't jump at all.
*Since when did this guy grow to 185? Chinese and numbers lol...
"This ball's mine—. WTF???"
Just as Rodríguez reached his highest point, about to head the ball, a massive presence suddenly loomed over him from behind. He was completely enveloped in shadow. Startled, he looked back to confirm, only to see that the Chinese player had risen above him, actually half a body length higher. It was like an unstoppable force bearing down.
"This goal!!! Jin—"
Amid commentator Scholl's exclamations, Jin Hayes—almost like a basketball player going for a slam dunk—headed the ball from a height that seemed impossible. A powerful, lion-like header thundered towards the goal.
Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Coupet was helpless, his terrified eyes following the ball as it rocketed into the net with the force of a thousand armies.
"Gooooooooal!!!"
"Can you believe it? Jin's header goal!!! Borussia Dortmund powerfully take the lead! 3-2!"
"Jin Hayes scores twice!"
"The strong Atlético Madrid have forced out a fully evolved Jin Hayes! Today's performance once again refreshes the understanding of all Dortmund fans!"
Even Jin Hayes, who couldn't shoot with his feet, could score with his head—Borussia Dortmund's victory was unstoppable.
Westfalen was completely insane. The excitement and uproar in the stands formed a stark contrast with the distraught Atlético Madrid players on the pitch. This time, Jin Hayes's celebration was finally not a 'neighbourhood-level' one. Having scored twice, his prepared celebration move finally came into use.
Under the camera's capture, Jin Hayes ran wildly towards the Westfalen South Stand, leaping high onto the advertising board, standing firm, and raising his arms in triumph. The photographer was also very cooperative, crouching down to shoot a 360-degree panoramic view from a low angle. At that moment, Jin Hayes looked like a superhero. The saviour of Westfalen had arrived.
Less than ten metres away, the Heinrich family in the stands had gone crazy. Uncle Hans pointed at Jin Hayes, proudly showing off to the surrounding fans: "He's my kid!!!"
Anna's heart fluttered. The infinitely radiant Jin Hayes completely captivated her heart. At that moment, he was her entire world.
"Damn, how did you do that?!"
"Jin!! You're incredible!"
"This is too crazy—am I dreaming?!"
The Dortmund teammates who rushed over hugged Jin Hayes in celebration, each with shock and joy on their faces. Jin Hayes's header? They had never even heard of it. This kid actually had this trick up his sleeve?
Jin Hayes merely curved his lips into a calm, understated smile: "Oh, it's just a small matter."
Experiment successful! Physical max-level talent enhancement—'Jump Enhancement' confirmed!
More importantly, heading is not affected by my shooting skill!
My shooting skill is bad, but what does that have to do with my heading?