Before we knew it, Di Maria was already 30 years old.
Time flies.
Standing at the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv, the Argentine could not help recalling that night at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal, when he dominated the Champions League final and was named Man of the Match.
That was the beginning of the peak of his career.
After that final, he became one of the world's top attackers. Together with Ronaldo and Benzema, he formed the most classic CBD trident in Real Madrid's history and helped build the club's most prosperous dynasty.
But at some point, they all realized that everything around them had changed.
Ronaldo could no longer run or dribble like before. He stayed high in every game, waiting for teammates to create chances. Benzema had also lost the flexibility of his youth, his body not what it once was, though he still worked tirelessly.
And himself.
He had suffered multiple injuries and was no longer as fast.
When he was young, he never felt it. He always thought he was special, a gift from God. As long as he worked hard, he could still gallop as recklessly as before, sprint with invincibility, and never tire.
But when you truly get older, that feeling and that confidence keep slipping away.
Until one day, you suddenly realize you cannot beat others to the ball, and you cannot sprint anymore.
Only then do you realize you are really old.
…
Di Maria turned his head and looked to the touchline.
At that moment, in front of the bench, Gao Shen was still constantly directing the team and adjusting players' positions.
He had not changed much. He was still full of passion and always hungry to win. He had even joked in the dressing room, saying, my body has declined and I am not as durable as before, but we have better skills and more experience.
Whenever Di Maria thought of the boss's expression when he said that, he could not help but smile knowingly.
Boss, your driving skills are really good.
After the laugh, he felt a deep reluctance.
Even the boss was leaving.
Ronaldo had made it clear that he was leaving. Juventus in Italy, Manchester United in the Premier League, and Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 were all willing to pay a transfer fee and a huge salary for him. At 33, he wanted new excitement.
Modric also wanted to leave. He wanted to retire at Inter Milan.
And Pepe...
Over the years, Real Madrid's overall lineup had been very stable. Although players came and went every year, the core remained largely unchanged.
Players like Xabi Alonso and Arbeloa had basically retired at Real Madrid.
Raul was now an assistant coach for the first team, Gao Shen's right-hand man.
This was a humane Real Madrid where everyone could find their place. The dressing room atmosphere was harmonious and everyone got along.
But everyone knew that in professional football, such peaceful times are rare and short-lived.
When the boss, the giant umbrella that shielded the dressing room from wind and rain, decided to step away, everyone had to be mentally prepared for the coming storm.
In fact, as early as last year, after the Champions League final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, Gao Shen had already started thinking about leaving. It was the dressing room, together with the management and fans, who persuaded him to stay.
At that time, everyone stayed optimistic, believing that as long as Gao Shen remained, everything would continue.
But over the past year, everyone had seen clearly.
In the face of cruel time and nature, humans are like insignificant ants.
Once you think it through, you accept it.
Di Maria also wanted to leave.
Paris Saint-Germain had contacted him and were willing to offer a higher salary to play in Ligue 1.
The competitive pressure there was lower, and Di Maria felt he could adapt better and play more comfortably.
But PSG still needed to negotiate with Real Madrid.
Tonight's battle at the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv might well be his last game for Real Madrid.
It might also be his last game under head coach Gao Shen.
Thinking of this, Di Maria took a deep breath, calmed himself, forced the messy thoughts aside, and focused on the game.
Since this is the last battle, there is no need to feel sad or depressed.
Just do it, and do it right.
Do not leave any regrets, this is what the boss taught him.
Thinking of this, Di Maria suddenly shouted and accelerated.
…
Leeds United's attacks were truly ferocious.
This team was not only extremely strong, but also very tough.
Pochettino had injected steel and bravery into the team, along with finesse.
It was not just Dembélé and Mbappé, but also Bernardo Silva, who came on as a substitute.
The midfielder had been one of the best performers in the Premier League this season, but in the final, Pochettino chose the in-form local talent Dele Alli.
The 22-year-old local midfielder was among the best performers in the Premier League and even in Europe this season. His market value had surpassed 100 million. He was strong in both attack and defense, especially in passing, assisting, and late runs into the box.
Despite his youth, he had already posted a double-double of goals and assists in the Premier League this season. With excellent technique, he was dubbed the second Pogba and had attracted interest from many top clubs.
Pochettino brought on Bernardo Silva to further strengthen midfield organization and passing, and to keep launching even fiercer attacks on Real Madrid, not only for the closing stages of regulation time, but also with an eye on extra time.
Real Madrid continued to guard their goal and waited patiently for opportunities.
Battle-hardened, they knew the more critical the moment, the calmer they needed to be.
Although Leeds United had attacked ferociously throughout, that was not necessarily a good thing.
If one attack failed to break through, Leeds United kept piling on the pressure and committed even more men forward.
This group of young players might even become desperate.
That would inevitably expose gaps.
Especially near the end.
They were still young and inexperienced. They had not learned when the most dangerous moments arrive.
But Real Madrid had lived through it and understood it.
More importantly, the series of comebacks this season had given Real Madrid unprecedented resilience and patience.
…
Time ticked by.
The match quickly entered stoppage time.
The fourth official on the sideline raised the board, indicating two minutes added.
Regulation time was in its final moments.
There were only two minutes left, no, a little over one minute.
Leeds United's players began to get anxious.
Their defensive shape became a little messy.
A quick cross from full-back Arnold gave Harry Kane a headed chance, but Courtois caught it cleanly. The angle was too straight.
The Real Madrid goalkeeper threw the ball directly to Marcelo, but Leeds United did not drop off. They pressed immediately near Real Madrid's penalty area.
Marcelo quickly fed Pogba, then to Toni Kroos, who pinged a long pass to the left side of the final third.
Ronaldo had been suppressed all game, but with his experience, he quickly got to the ball on the left.
Leeds United center-back Militao recovered with great speed. Another young center-back developed by Leeds United, together with the Netherlands' De Ligt, he was considered Leeds United's biggest discovery this season.
Ronaldo controlled the ball and faced Militao. A few years ago, he would have boldly driven at him, but now he did not have that certainty.
So he stopped sharply, came back with the ball, and laid it off to the onrushing Pogba. Then he made a diagonal run toward the left side of the box, dragging Militao with him.
Pogba took Ronaldo's pass and carried it forward.
Kanté chased relentlessly and never gave him space to shoot.
At the left edge of the area, Pogba chopped to a standstill, sending Kanté flying past. But the French teammate, not tall but very agile, reacted instantly, stopped, and snapped back toward Pogba again.
As one of the world's top defensive midfielders, Pogba knew Kanté's strength very well.
There are no insurmountable obstacles, only insurmountable Kantés.
Seventy percent of the Earth is covered by water, and the remaining 30 percent is covered by Kanté.
This was Gao Shen's evaluation of Kanté, widely quoted by media and fans.
So, after Pogba's stop, he immediately used his body to shield Kanté, protected the ball, turned his back to goal, and played it sideways with his right.
At that moment, Benzema on the right side of the box and Ronaldo on the left both dragged Leeds United's defenders away, exposing a gap in the middle.
A channel straight to goal.
Di Maria's speed was not what it once was, but he still burst to the edge of the Leeds United penalty area. Seeing Pogba's pass, he glanced at the box, took it on his right, shifted it onto his left, and, after a slight adjustment, struck cleanly with his left foot.
From the acceleration to the touch to the shot, Di Maria's action was completed in one smooth sequence.
More importantly, it was at least 25 meters from goal.
The Argentine's long-range effort was sudden and traveled at great speed.
It bent with a graceful arc.
During the winter break, Manchester City goalkeeper Neuer suffered a serious injury and missed the entire season. The Blue Moon then poached Leeds United goalkeeper Ederson for a huge fee, but in the second half of the season, his replacement Alisson shone and amazed the world.
Throughout the second half of the season, Alisson had made no major mistakes. He saved high and low, and was the primary contributor to Leeds United winning the Premier League and FA Cup.
But at this moment, facing Di Maria's world-class strike, especially one arcing toward the top-left corner, he was truly helpless and could only watch the ball fly into the net.
Time seemed to freeze.
Then, all the Real Madrid fans and players in the stadium erupted into unprecedented madness.
Especially Di Maria, the hero of the moment. He sprinted off the pitch like a madman.
The live camera caught the tears in his eyes as he ran.
Di Maria rushed to the touchline and hugged head coach Gao Shen in excitement.
The other Real Madrid players also sprinted over, embracing Gao Shen and their teammates tightly.
This scene moved fans around the world.
(To be continued.)