"This is really rare. As the team's central midfielder, Kai hasn't touched the ball once since the second half began!"
"What is he doing? His movement is… dodging the ball?"
"Yes, movement — not running. He's completely out of gas."
"I actually understand Kai. If the ball reaches him now, it's dangerous. He doesn't even have the strength to pass in time. He can't help the team anymore. Disappearing is the last way he can contribute!"
"Coach Marques really should make a substitution. Taking Kai off would be better for everyone."
On the pitch, a bizarre scene unfolded.
Even when the ball was on the left, the camera kept zooming in on Kai on the right.
He was deliberately moving to avoid receiving passes.
Constantly hiding behind Bayern players.
Never giving his teammates a clear passing lane.
It looked ridiculous.
And heartbreaking.
After all, Kai was the youngest — and the smallest — player on the field.
"How are you?" Cristiano Ronaldo walked over during a stoppage. "You usually recover fast."
Kai's face was pale.
"Almost there…" he muttered weakly.
Ronaldo frowned. "Then why are you acting like you're about to die?"
Kai rolled his eyes. "So what, I should tell them I'm fine and let three defenders come mark me?"
"Stop talking crap," Ronaldo grumbled. "If you get a chance later, just sprint down the wing. They're tired too. Be bold. Be decisive. Don't use that stupid electric-shock bicycle dribble of yours — just run past them!"
Kai almost choked.
Electric shock bicycle?!
The hell?!
That's a dynamic step-over! A body feint! A technical move!
What do you even know?!
…
118th minute.
Schweinsteiger whipped in a cross.
Sporting's left center-back, Angelo, rose high and headed the ball clear.
It dropped outside the box.
Lahm collected it, preparing to spread play wide again.
"Watch out!" Schweinsteiger shouted.
Lahm reacted—
Too late.
The ball had already left his feet.
Bang!
A foot hooked it away from behind.
"It's Kai!"
"Kai with a crucial tackle!"
"If Lahm organizes another attack there, it's extremely dangerous!"
"But who would've thought — the guy who looked half-dead for twenty minutes suddenly revived?!"
"Lahm completely underestimated him!"
Lahm spun around and charged at Kai.
Bang!
Kai didn't hesitate. One touch — straight to the right wing.
Cristiano Ronaldo received it and exploded forward.
The CR supercar launched.
Bayern had been pressing high for ages — their back line was exposed.
With Ronaldo's acceleration?
No one could stop him.
He stayed wide, refusing to cut inside.
Bayern defenders scrambled toward the middle, helpless to catch him on the flank.
Everyone watched Ronaldo.
Except Lahm.
He was watching Kai.
Kai was sprinting forward to support!
Lahm gritted his teeth and chased him.
This sneaky bastard… pretending to be exhausted!
But the shocking part?
He couldn't close the distance.
Kai wasn't slower than him at all.
"…His stamina is better than mine?" Lahm's scalp tingled.
Fatigue reduces everything — speed, reaction, strength.
Lahm had clearly slowed.
But Kai?
Still running like a damn ghost.
How long is this guy's stamina bar?!
The two raced past midfield.
Kai suddenly cut toward the right to link up with Ronaldo.
Lahm hesitated — then chose to sprint back toward the center.
On counterattacks, protect the middle first.
Textbook decision.
Bang!
Ronaldo saw Kai and instantly laid it off, then kept sprinting down the wing.
Bayern's left-back had no choice but to follow Ronaldo.
Let him go?
Are you insane?
Even on the wing, Ronaldo could dribble, cut in, shoot, pass, or win a penalty.
You simply cannot give that man space.
Now Kai faced only two center-backs.
One stepped out.
Kai immediately one-touched the ball back to Lorenzo, who had rushed up behind.
Lorenzo quickly shifted it wide to Ronaldo again.
Meanwhile, Kai leaned into the center-back, initiating slight contact outside the box.
He used his arm to hold space.
The defender remembered how "dead" Kai looked earlier.
Afraid of giving away a dangerous free kick, he didn't dare push too hard.
Bang!
Ronaldo passed back again.
Still running nonstop, dragging the left-back with him like a dog on a leash.
The ball rolled to Kai.
This time, the center-back finally used strength, trying to disrupt him.
Kai braced with his back, fighting for position.
Bang!
Instead of trapping it, Kai flicked the ball outward with his left foot.
Through the defender's legs.
Nutmeg.
At the same time, he spun right, slipping past like an eel.
Straight into the box.
The other center-back rushed over.
Both had a chance.
Bang!
Kai got there first near the penalty spot.
He poked it past the defender—
Slipped by on the other side—
Another nutmeg!
Two in a row.
From the right flank to the penalty spot in seconds.
Absolutely filthy.
Watching from home, Robben froze in front of his computer.
"…Is that me in another universe?"
When they played against me, he didn't dribble like this…
Why is he suddenly god-tier?
Did they hold back against me?
Am I not worth his full effort?
Am I… trash?
Robben grabbed the iron rod beside him, ready to smash the monitor.
…
One-on-one.
Kai versus the keeper.
Calm.
Ice-cold.
Too close for a chip.
The Bayern goalkeeper had already committed, diving toward the near post.
So naturally, Kai should shoot far post.
But then—
Why was the keeper so confident about covering near post only?
Unless…
Kai's mind replayed the positions from earlier when he passed to Lorenzo.
Ding.
Lightning flashed through his brain.
Got it.
He finally understood why the keeper was guarding only the near post.
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