Chapter 203: Top Football Stars Ranking, Lin Quan Makes the List!
"Achoo!"
Even though the Manchester City players immediately returned to the locker room for a hot shower after the game, many of them showed signs of catching a cold on the bus ride back to the hotel.
The next day, five of the players who had played in the match came down with a fever, causing the coaching staff to panic. Pellegrini called the team doctor to ask about their condition.
"How long will it take for the players to recover? Can they be ready for the match in three days?"
The team doctor shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Their physical condition won't support such intense activity. I recommend they rest and recover properly."
"Alright, what about the other players? Are they okay?"
Currently, the five players with colds are forwards Agüero, midfielders García and Fernandinho, winger Navas, and defender Zabaleta. Except for García, who is an important rotation player, the others are all main players. Their absence significantly impacts Manchester City's fighting strength.
"And Lin? He hasn't shown any symptoms, has he?"
Pellegrini asked specifically about Lin Quan, as with so many key players possibly out due to illness, Lin's health was crucial.
"I checked Lin's condition. He is very healthy, no problems at all!"
The team doctor had never seen a player with such good physical condition as Lin Quan. Despite continuous battles on multiple fronts, he had not suffered any injuries. This could only be explained by his excellent physical fitness.
"That's good. Isolate the sick players so they don't affect the healthy ones!"
Although it was unlikely to be the flu, Pellegrini couldn't take any chances. If a cross-infection occurred among the players, it would be disastrous.
To ensure the team returned to London quickly and prepared better for the match against Chelsea, Manchester City's owner, Mansour, used his private jet to bring the players back. This saved a lot of time and effort compared to commercial flights, allowing the players to conserve their energy.
Mansour's private jet was very luxurious, and the players couldn't resist taking pictures and exploring the plane. Some even posted selfies online, drawing awe and envy from countless fans.
"Wow, this plane is ridiculously luxurious!"
"A private cinema, dedicated restrooms and game rooms, a card room, and a café. It's small but fully equipped!"
"You don't get it, do you? This is a customized private jet, designed according to the customer's needs, completely different from regular commercial planes!"
"I wish I had a plane like this!"
"Wake up, stop dreaming. Such high-end custom private jets cost several million euros. Do you think you can afford it?"
"Rich and extravagant!"
"No wonder people call Manchester City a nouveau riche. They truly live up to their reputation!"
To keep the players entertained during the flight and avoid boredom, Mansour opened the cinema, game room, and card room to the players, except for his private bedroom. Some players watched movies, while others played games.
Pellegrini didn't join in the fun due to his position but was surprised to see Lin Quan not participating.
"Aren't you going to play, Lin?"
"I've tried them before. I'll let the others enjoy."
Pellegrini was astonished. Lin had flown on Mansour's private jet before? Pellegrini, who joined Manchester City later, didn't know how Lin was signed. But from Lin's casual remark, he imagined a scenario where Mansour personally invited Lin to join Manchester City. This made Pellegrini realize Lin's significant status within the team. Not only was he skilled, but he also had strong backing from the club's top boss!
Lin wasn't joining the games because he was busy chatting with Lily Collins. Even at high altitudes, the private jet had Wi-Fi, allowing him to use social media.
Seeing a few unread messages, the first one was sent the previous night at ten-thirty, right after their match against CSKA Moscow.
"Congratulations! You guys were amazing!" The first message congratulated them on their victory, with a clapping emoji.
"Rest well after the game. It must be late there!"
"Remember to take a hot shower before bed, don't catch a cold!"
After sending three messages without a response, Lily Collins seemed to realize Lin's phone wasn't with him. She sent a goodnight emoji and logged off.
Lin had returned to the hotel at eleven-thirty, exhausted from the game and the rain. He fell asleep immediately and didn't see her messages. Now, seeing her messages brought a smile to his face.
"Did you watch my game?"
There was no immediate response, so Lin picked up a newspaper to pass the time. It was a sports paper, mostly covering the Champions League and the top five leagues. The focus was on the Real Madrid vs. Juventus match, where Ronaldo scored twice, leading his team to a 2-1 victory.
In just four minutes, Ronaldo scored the opening goal, and after Juventus equalized, he converted a penalty to secure the win. With seven goals in three games, Ronaldo had the highest scoring rate in the top five leagues.
After news of Ronaldo's potential Ballon d'Or win, his form skyrocketed. With 58 goals in European competitions, Ronaldo surpassed legends Eusebio and Van Nistelrooy, ranking third in history, just behind Messi and Raúl. He also became the third player in Champions League history to score at least two goals in three consecutive matches, following Inzaghi and Elber.
But Ronaldo wasn't the only standout in the Champions League. Paris Saint-Germain's Ibrahimović scored four goals in a match against Anderlecht, bringing his total to six goals, just one behind Ronaldo. Ibrahimović's goals included no penalties, while one of Ronaldo's seven was a penalty, leading to debates among fans.
"Relying on penalties doesn't make you a real man. If Ronaldo dares, he should compete with Ibrahimović without penalties!"
"Ronaldo is Real Madrid's top penalty taker because he has a good mindset and high accuracy!"
"You're just making excuses. Only Ronaldo fans can justify this so confidently!"
"Wait until Real Madrid faces PSG in the knockout stages. We'll see who's laughing then!"
Though a Real Madrid-PSG knockout match was unlikely, Ronaldo's Portugal would soon face Ibrahimović's Sweden in the World Cup qualifiers. Only one team would qualify for the World Cup, ensuring a fierce battle.
Interviewed by reporters, Ronaldo expressed confidence in leading Portugal to victory, focusing first on the upcoming El Clásico against Barcelona. Meanwhile, Ibrahimović's blunt remarks highlighted his disdain for Ronaldo, preferring the legendary Ronaldo (R9).
When asked about the best player today, Ibrahimović surprisingly chose Messi and Lin Quan, which shocked reporters, given his supposed bad relationship with Messi. But Ibrahimović admired Messi, and his issues were with Guardiola. Including Lin Quan was unexpected, as many didn't think he was on Messi's level yet.
"Watch Manchester City's games, and you'll see I'm right!" Ibrahimović told the reporters.
Lin Quan, seeing this, smiled wryly. Why drag me into your fight with Ronaldo?
Checking Twitter trends, he found Ibrahimović's interview trending, with discussions about Lin and Ronaldo.
"Ibrahimović has some self-awareness, not boasting about himself!"
"People recognize Messi and Ronaldo as the best. He wouldn't dare place himself above them!"
"Those who follow Ibrahimović know he usually praises himself highly!"
"But it's strange he included Lin Quan with Messi. Does he rate Lin that highly?"
"Lin Quan has scored four goals in three group matches, ranking fifth in the top scorers' list. Not bad, but not exceptional either."
"He's scored in every match and has three assists, leading the Champions League in assists!"
"Lin Quan is only seventeen, while Ronaldo is 28, Messi 26, and Ibrahimović 31. Comparing him to them isn't fair. Compare him to players his age, and you'll see how extraordinary he is!"
"Indeed, his stats and performance at seventeen surpass many top players' early careers."
Some fans created charts comparing top players' stats at seventeen to Lin's, highlighting his exceptional talent. Manchester City's investment in him clearly wasn't foolish.
Experts ranked the top 50 players, with Messi and Ronaldo unsurprisingly at the top. Messi was first, Ronaldo second, Iniesta third, Xavi fourth, and Lin Quan fifth.
"Lin Quan's overall strength is high, but his late start affects his historical achievements, hence his lower rank. However, in my opinion, he's on par with Messi and Ronaldo," the expert explained. Despite this, many fans disagreed.
"What a garbage ranking! Ibrahimović is only seventh. This list is unreliable!"
"Falcao sixth and Cavani twentieth? Seriously?"
"Rooney fifteenth? His performance this season deserves better!"
"Why isn't Kaka on the list?"
As Lin evaluated the rankings, a notification sounded. He guessed it was from Lily Collins and was right.
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