The Football Dream

[WSA 2025 Entry] December 18, 2022. In a heart-wrenching World Cup Final, France falls to Argentina. All across the nation, eyes are glued to Kylian Mbappé, who leaves the pitch with a stunning hat-trick—but no trophy to show for it. Among the spectators is a 15-year-old boy, watching from a cramped apartment in Bellevue, Marseille. In that moment, he makes a life-changing decision: “I will bring the World Cup back to France. I will become the next icon.” That boy is Yanis Benali. Now at 16, Yanis possesses an untamed talent, an unquenchable hunger, and that raw street instinct that no elite academy can replicate. Yet, he stands alone—without a club, lacking connections, with no one to believe in his dream. He skips school to focus on his training, practices relentlessly on his own, and studies his plays through YouTube breakdowns. His family views his ambitions as reckless; his best friend begins to morph into a rival; and teachers warn him he’s throwing his future away. But for Yanis, the path is already clear. When INF France, the nation’s premier football academy, announces an open trial in Marseille, Yanis recognizes his moment—a crucial opportunity to showcase his talent and prove that he belongs on the grand stage. What begins as a boy’s fervent obsession transforms into an extraordinary journey: From the gritty concrete courts to the highly competitive national leagues. From an overlooked talent to a budding star. Through the trials of betrayal, the pain of injury, the weight of media scrutiny, and the fierce intensity of competition—Yanis remains unyielding. Because this journey transcends the desire to go professional. It’s about making history. This is the novel about a boy from the streets of Marseille who dares to take on the world—with a ball at his feet and a World Cup in his dreams.