Chasing the Goal

The Final Journey: A Footballer's Dream

It was only a few minutes before kickoff. I stood in the tunnel of the biggest stadium in the world, a place where legends were made—both the living and the dead. The roar of the crowd echoed around me, a thunderous wave of excitement that could be felt in my bones. From where I stood, I could sense the magnitude of the moment, the weight of history pressing down on all of us.

I was the smallest in the walkway, barely noticeable among the giants of the sport. Fear gripped me tightly, and I could hear my own heartbeat over the crowd's deafening cheers. I had played in many matches before, but never in one as monumental as this. This was the World Cup Final, the pinnacle of every footballer's career, and I had never been this close to glory.

As the seconds ticked away, there was only one thought running through my mind: I cannot lose this game. We weren't the favorites—far from it—but I had to believe we could defy the odds. No one expected us to win, but I had to find the courage to face the challenge ahead. It was the only way I could survive this moment.

The opposition was stacked with talent, some of the finest players the world had ever seen. Their skill and confidence were undeniable. On paper, they were better in every way—stronger, faster, more experienced. But even though I was filled with doubt, I knew I was the best player on our team, and possibly even the best on the field that day. And I had to remind myself that I was standing on that pitch for a reason.

My eyes drifted to the World Cup trophy, glittering on the side of the field, the final piece in the puzzle of my career. ."It was a stunning trophy, made purely of gold. At that moment, I realized it was truly worth all the hype." I had won everything there was to win: league titles, international accolades, even personal awards. But this—this was the only trophy missing. I had dreamed of this moment my entire life. I could almost feel its weight in my hands.

In that tense moment, I recalled the words of my coach from earlier in the week. "Football is just a game. But make sure you don't lose." Simple, but profound. That single piece of advice stayed with me, repeating in my mind as I surveyed my teammates. They looked nervous, filled with tension. I could see their hands trembling, their eyes darting around in quiet panic. They were as scared as I was.

Then I glanced at our opponents. The calm confidence they exuded was overwhelming. They were ready. They had been here before and knew what it took to win at this level. My stomach churned as I realized just how difficult this match would be. I was shaking now, doubt creeping into every corner of my mind.

Suddenly, I felt a firm tap on my back. I turned and saw Ayo, our vice-captain who plays the position of an attacking midfield, popularly known as the number 10 position. His presence was reassuring. "We've come too far to be scared now," he said, his voice steady. His words cut through the fear, grounding me. In that moment, I realized I had a responsibility greater than my own nerves—I was the captain of this team, our nation's hope rested on my shoulders. It was up to me to lead them, to remind them of who we were.

I straightened up, my heart steadying. "There's no reason to panic," I said, turning to face the team. "This is a fair game, eleven versus eleven. No matter who's better on paper, we're equals on the field today." As I spoke, I could see the fear in my teammates' eyes begin to fade, replaced by determination. My words had reached them, and their spirits were lifting.

We gathered together, forming a tight circle, and prayed. As we finished, we walked through the tunnel, stepping into the blinding lights of the stadium. The roar of the crowd hit us like a wave as we entered the field.

To my surprise, just as we stepped onto the pitch, I saw none other than Justin Bieber finishing up his performance. Yes, you heard that right. The great Justin Bieber had been chosen to sing before the final of the World Cup, and his performance was nothing short of spectacular. As his final note hung in the air, I couldn't help but smile. The world was truly watching.

The national anthems of both countries played, and we stood side by side with the opposition. As the last notes echoed into the night sky, we rearrange ourselves into our various positions we played on the field, ready for the match to begin.

The atmosphere was electric. The crowd chanted, flags waved in the stands, and the tension was palpable. But standing there, looking around at the stadium filled with fans from all over the world, I couldn't help but reflect on how far I had come. The journey to this moment had been long and difficult, filled with countless challenges, setbacks, and moments of doubt.

And now, here I was—on the cusp of greatness, But before the whistle blew, before the battle truly began, before kickoff, I thought it felt only right to share how it had all started.

That's a story worth telling.