At noon on the day the Golden Boy Award was announced, Mark, who was undergoing recovery training at the team's base, met the representatives sent by Tuttosport.
In front of the cameras, dressed in his training gear, he smiled as he accepted the european golden boy award, which looked strikingly like the Ballon d'Or, from the editor-in-chief of Tuttosport.
At the same time, a warm notification from the system rang in Mark's mind:
"Ding!"
"Season mission 'european golden boy award' completed!"
"Reward: Ten Potential Points"
Mark's selection made him the first player in Wolfsburg's history to receive this honor.
He was also the second German player to win the european golden boy award since Mario Götze in 2011.
After the award ceremony, Mark accepted an exclusive interview with Tuttosport indoors.
"I am very honored to receive this award; it is a recognition of my past year..."
"I will place this award in my display cabinet..."
In addition to the Golden Boy Award, Mark also talked about topics such as the World Cup, the National Team, and the club.
"Becoming a World Cup champion at eighteen is just the beginning for me."
"That goal in the final was very special; perhaps it is the most important goal of my career so far..."
"At that time, I didn't think about whether the ball would go in; I was just thinking that I really, really wanted to win this match!"
"The feeling in the National Team is different from that in the club..."
"Coach Hecking is someone who appears stern on the surface but is very kind in private. And Mr. Löw is a manager who is very good at communicating with players..."
After finishing the interview, Mark held the Golden Boy Award and took a cool selfie with his phone.
He captioned it: "european golden boy award, what a wonderful year!"
Subsequently, he discovered that his phone had already received many congratulatory messages.
From his agent Raiola, club teammates, National Team teammates, opponents...
It is worth mentioning that the two beauties, Keeley Hazel and Esther Hitsch, sent him messages at almost the same time.
"Congratulations, my baby! You are simply amazing!" — Keeley Hazel.
"Congratulations, this is what you deserve." — Esther Hitsch.
Looking at these messages, Mark felt warm inside.
That evening, Wolfsburg welcomed their opponent for the 17th round of the League, Cologne, at the Volkswagen Arena.
To show off to the whole world that the club had produced a European Golden Boy, the Wolfsburg management held a ceremony before the match.
Under the gaze of tens of thousands of fans in the stadium, Mark appeared from the player tunnel, holding the european golden boy award.
The next second, the entire stadium erupted into deafening cheers and applause!
Even the visiting fans offered applause for Mark.
There was no other reason; as a great product of the domestic youth academy, and an absolute hero who helped the German Team lift the world cup trophy, Mark's selection was a point of pride for them as fellow Germans.
Standing in the center of the pitch, Mark held the Golden Boy Award high, sparking waves of cheers.
In the stands, someone started singing the "Mark Song" at some point.
"Mark... Mark... One of us!"
"The best of us!"
"Mark... Mark... His dribbling is like dancing!"
"The most elegant dance moves!"
"This song is dedicated to Mark Lane!"
"Taking on three is a routine operation, no one on the pitch can stop him!"
"Who is he?"
"Mark~~~ Lane!"
As the soaring singing echoed over the stadium, Mark couldn't help but squint his eyes, quietly enjoying the high treatment of being worshipped by thousands: "This feeling of being cheered by the whole stadium is just great!"
At this moment, Mark couldn't help but make a secret resolution in his heart:
The Golden Boy Award is just the first step.
The next step is the Ballon d'Or!
At this moment, the live broadcast camera aimed at the VIP area in the stands.
There, a beautiful, tall figure appeared on camera.
It was the German supermodel Esther Hitsch, wearing a Wolfsburg number ten jersey!
Perhaps it was because she saw Jilly come to the scene to cheer for Mark last time and steal quite a bit of the spotlight.
Feeling a full sense of crisis, Hitsch took the initiative.
Hearing that Hitsch intended to come to the scene to watch, Mark did not refuse and directly got her a VIP ticket.
This was the reason why she appeared at the scene.
And sitting next to Hitsch was De Bruyne's girlfriend, Michelle.
"Esther, look, that guy Mark should be waving at you!"
"How do you know?"
"I told you long ago, a man as excellent as Mark has many women eyeing him. You have to take the initiative to snatch him away from those butterflies..."
Hearing this, Hitsch nodded as if she understood.
At this time, Michelle noticed that the two appeared on the stadium's big screen and immediately whispered a reminder: "Esther, you're on camera, hurry up and wave to the camera!"
Hearing this, Hitsch was stunned for a moment, then revealed a sweet smile and waved to the camera.
And this wave of fairy-like smiling made the commentator's heart melt: "Such a beautiful smile, it really makes one feel happy!"
"In the last match against Paderborn, the British goddess Keeley Hazel crossed the ocean to watch the game."
"And this time, Esther Hitsch is not to be outdone and has also come to the scene to cheer for Mark."
"According to media reports, Lane has ambiguous relationships with both ladies..."
"However, Lane has not admitted to any romantic relationship, only issuing a statement claiming that he is just very good friends with both of them..."
The commentator deliberately elongated his tone on the word "friends".
Obviously, he did not believe this official statement from Mark at all.
It wasn't just the commentator who felt envious; all the men present couldn't help but cast envious and jealous eyes at Mark on the pitch.
"Damn, this kid Mark is too awesome!"
"Last time it was the British sexy goddess, this time it's a fairy supermodel!"
"How does he have the virtue and ability to receive the favor of two goddesses?!"
Oh, he is a World Cup champion and the hottest super-new star in German football?
Then never mind!
Following the small interlude of the ceremony to show (flaunt) the Golden Boy Award, Mark waved goodbye to the fans and returned to the player tunnel.
Before long, the fully dressed players from both sides lined up and walked onto the pitch.
"Welcome to the 2014-15 Bundesliga 17th round match brought to you by Sky Sports..."
"League leaders Wolfsburg host Cologne..."
"The players have entered the field..."
Beep!
Accompanying the referee's whistle, the final match of the first half of the Bundesliga season officially kicked off!
As the Bundesliga 2 champions of last season and the newly promoted team this season, Cologne invested heavily in the summer window.
They spent over seven million euros to sign eight players!
Of course, although seven million euros doesn't sound like much, for a team returning to the Bundesliga, this amount of money is already a very large expenditure.
Generally speaking, newly promoted teams will enjoy a "promotion bonus" after just being promoted because opponents don't understand them.
Paderborn was like this, and Cologne is the same.
In the sixteen matches of the first half of the season, Cologne achieved a record of five wins, four draws, and seven losses, with 19 points, ranking eleventh in the League.
Although they are in the middle of the pack, they are only five points away from the relegation zone.
Compared to Paderborn, who had spent years in the Bundesliga 2, Cologne still had some heritage.
They once won the first Bundesliga championship and won several Bundesliga and German Cup titles in the seventies and eighties.
However, ever since their first relegation in 1998, they have basically wandered between the Bundesliga 2 and the Bundesliga for the past decade or so.
The team's overall strength is still quite a bit worse compared to the leaders, Wolfsburg.
Therefore, Cologne, playing away, pragmatically set up a defensive counter-attack posture, letting Wolfsburg attack.
And because the opponent's strength was relatively weak, plus the upcoming winter break, Hecking also rotated the squad for this match.
The team's midfield core De Bruyne, Gustavo, Perišić, and R-Lo were all rested, while substitutes like Hummels, Caligiuri, and Bendtner were given starting opportunities.
And the substitutes who got the starting opportunity were also very hardworking.
Just six minutes into the start, Hummels's long shot from the edge of the penalty area tested Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn.
Then, a few minutes later, Mark broke through with the ball on the left, performed a "soup" and completed a cross!
Bendtner in the middle jumped high and headed the ball.
Although he hit it well, the angle was too straight, and it was miraculously saved by Horn again!
Two consecutive attacks broke Cologne fans into a cold sweat.
"Is this the offense of the League leaders?"
"This is too fierce?!"
"You know, this is still a half-main, half-substitute lineup!"
Without any surprise, Wolfsburg, playing at home, completely suppressed Cologne in their half.
With De Bruyne not on the field, Hummels in the number ten position got more possession.
And this former Werder Bremen captain, perhaps also holding a breath in his heart, wanted to prove himself to Hecking and the fans.
So, after getting the ball, his first thought was to do it himself!
"Hummels has the ball... dribbling forward!"
"Shoot!"
"Too far from the goal, this shot has absolutely no threat..."
Seeing Hummels's desire to attack was so strong, basically shooting from long range as soon as he reached the edge of the penalty area, without any intention of cooperating with teammates, Mark also somewhat understood the other party's thoughts.
The news of Hummels's dissatisfaction with his playing time was not a one-day or two-day thing.
He thought that by transferring from Werder Bremen to Wolfsburg on a free transfer in the summer, he could replace De Bruyne as the team's midfield core.
But he didn't expect De Bruyne to play explosively, firmly pressing him on the bench.
He could only get starting opportunities or come off the bench in some unimportant matches.
For the proud former Werder Bremen captain, such a result was difficult to accept.
Even not long ago, there were rumors spreading that Hummels wanted to leave the team and return to Werder Bremen.
However, seeing the team singing and advancing all the way, with a good chance to win this season's Bundesliga championship, Hummels was also somewhat hesitant.
Should he continue to sit on the bench at Wolfsburg and get a Bundesliga championship, or return to Werder Bremen to be a starter?
In any case, he hoped to show himself more on the field.
Regarding this, Mark didn't pay too much attention.
However, as time passed, Wolfsburg had the offense but never managed to bear fruit, sending the ball into the opponent's goal.
Instead, because Hummels held the ball too much, after being intercepted by Cologne, they launched a few counter-attacks.
Fortunately, Cologne's offensive ability was average and did not pose a real threat to Benaglio.
Until the twenty-seventh minute, the score on the field was still zero to zero.
At this time, Hecking on the coaching bench also noticed Hummels's excessive ball possession and came to the sideline, starting to shout loudly: "Aaron (Hummels)!"
"Pass the ball!"
You know, when De Bruyne is not on the field, Mark will be the explosive point on the wing, transforming into an organizational core on the wing!
He is responsible for holding the ball for organization and breakthroughs, and everyone else has to revolve around him.
However, Hummels stole the ball possession that belonged to Mark.
Does he really not know his own weight?!
Perhaps the sound of the fans at the scene was too enthusiastic, so Hummels did not hear the head coach's shouting from the sidelines.
As Hummels again shot slightly over the crossbar, Mark couldn't hold back anymore.
Taking advantage of the opponent picking up the ball to kick off, he ran to Hummels's side and reminded him loudly: "Hey, Aaron, don't always do it alone, pass the ball more!"
Hearing this, Hummels was stunned.
You can do it alone, but I can't?!
Although he thought so in his heart, he certainly didn't dare to say that to Mark's face.
"Okay, I understand!"
As soon as the voice fell, Mark continued: "If you want to score, I can help you!"
"If we play more wall-pass combinations, it will be easier to break through their defense line!"
After speaking, Mark did not forget to pat his shoulder before turning and running back to his defensive position.
Leaving only Hummels staring thoughtfully at Mark's back...
After Mark's reminder, Hummels indeed reduced his individual dribbling and chose to play more combinations with his teammates.
And this change also made Wolfsburg's front-court offense become smooth.
Just five minutes later, Mark broke through with the ball on the left, attracted the attention of several defensive players with a feint, then flicked it with the outside of his right foot, passing the ball to Hummels in the middle.
Because the defensive midfielder was pulled out of the defensive area by Mark, Hummels was left unmarked.
After stopping the ball, he immediately swung his leg with force and fired a blast!
This time, the ball went straight to the top right corner of the goal!
The next second, the ball made intimate contact with the net, making a crisp "swish" sound.
Just like that, Cologne held on for nearly thirty minutes, but still announced the goal had fallen!
"Goal!"
"Wolfsburg breaks the deadlock first!"
"Aaron Hummels scored a brilliant long shot!"
"However, 70% of the credit for this goal must be attributed to Mark..."
Having completed the goal, Hummels was also very excited, rushing to the corner flag, punching the corner flag pole, and letting out a roar.
Immediately after, he suddenly remembered something, turned around, and pointed both hands at Mark who came running.
And Mark also smiled and stepped forward to high-five him: "Nice shot!"
"Thanks to you..."
Only then did Hummels finally realize the huge gap between himself and Mark.
As long as Mark has the ball, he can attract two to three people's defense; the opponent not only cannot steal his ball but also cannot stop his breakthroughs and passes.
Compared to the effect of his own solo run, the effect of playing with Mark was completely different!