Chapter 157: "Light of Asia" Sparks Idol Frenzy in East Asia
"If it weren't for the no-same-country rule, I'd love to draw Valencia in the Round of 16. It'd be just like playing two extra league matches—no long flights."
"Yeah, dream on... Porto or Celtic would be fine too. Just don't let it be Donetsk or Galatasaray—it's freezing over there!"
"Ugh, that reminds me of last season's away game in Moscow. That pitch, that weather..."
"Sweet Mary, that frosty artificial turf was a nightmare! Stop, if we get something like that again this season, I'll cry."
"Honestly, I wouldn't mind Arsenal or Milan—"
"Shut up!"
On December 7th, after another routine training session, Real Madrid players lay in the physio room, relaxing with massages and chatting about the upcoming Champions League knockout draw.
The mood was light, conversation lively—until Li Ang chimed in.
He didn't even get to finish his sentence before his teammates shut him down.
"Your mouth is cursed, man. Don't jinx us. Drawing Arsenal or AC Milan means extra energy and stamina spent—even if we're not afraid of them."
Long-silent Alonso chimed in and knocked lightly on Li Ang's forehead, warning him to stop "casting spells."
"Hey, Little Lion, you know much about Japan? We're heading there soon—any good food or places to visit?"
Callejón, who'd never been to Japan, asked with curiosity.
But his question stumped Li Ang.
He'd seen plenty of Japanese films—normal ones, of course—but when it came to food and attractions, he only had a general idea.
Truthfully, while his European teammates might find Japanese cuisine and intricate, delicate scenery charming, Li Ang couldn't think of anything that really stood out for him personally.
If they had enough time, he'd much rather take a quick post-tournament trip to the Jiaodong Peninsula back home in China.
But with the tight schedule, that was out of the question.
Li Ang tilted his head in thought, then shook it. Better not to pretend—he'd rather stay quiet than risk sounding dismissive or clueless.
Meanwhile, the banter in the physio room grew louder.
At this point, no one in the squad doubted they'd win the Club World Cup.
It wasn't arrogance—it was justified confidence.
Chelsea had lost to Corinthians in 2012, sure, but that Chelsea team was already in rebuild mode.
This Real Madrid? At their absolute peak. Best squad in Europe. Facing champions from other continents? No contest.
They'd steamroll them—no room for drama.
If they couldn't even beat a team like Corinthians, what right did they have to dream of retaining their Champions League title?
Might as well get knocked out early and spare themselves the embarrassment.
High on confidence and camaraderie, the players joked and dreamed about what it would feel like to become sextuple champions.
And the upcoming La Liga fixture? Not even a blip on their radar.
Thanks to Mourinho's full rotation in the final Champions League group game, the starters had enjoyed solid rest.
The next league opponent, Valladolid, might've shocked some by sitting 7th in La Liga as a newly promoted side…
But in the eyes of Madrid's starters, La Liga 7th wasn't much different from La Liga 17th.
And they weren't wrong.
In the December 8th match, Madrid completely dominated Valladolid on their home turf.
Normally, Madrid wouldn't attack so aggressively from the opening whistle.
But Mourinho used this game as a rehearsal—to prepare his players for the fast-paced, high-pressure style they'd use at the Club World Cup.
Valladolid, to their credit, had only conceded 15 goals in 14 matches before this. They had one of the most stable defenses outside of the big three.
So Mourinho treated them like a whetstone—an ideal test for Madrid's sharpened weapons.
Madrid unleashed everything. Wing play, through-the-middle combinations—they ran the full playbook.
Li Ang was especially aggressive in joining the attack today. Unfortunately, his luck had run dry after last week's heroics against Atlético.
He'd scored and assisted in the derby, riding a wave of momentum.
But this time, his two long-range strikes narrowly missed the crossbar.
He quickly realized: this just wasn't his day to score.
Still, his off-ball movement and distribution carved open countless chances for his teammates.
Valladolid scored twice from counterattacks during Madrid's all-out press—a rare bright spot in an otherwise lopsided game.
But after conceding five goals, even those two weren't enough to bring joy to their fans.
Madrid eased off after the 70th minute, but by then, the damage was done.
A full handful of goals had already wrecked Valladolid's morale.
As a promoted side, it was understandable that they still trusted official stats.
But clubs like Málaga, Betis, and Getafe—teams hovering around the top six—knew better.
When you face Madrid, Barça, or even this resurgent Atlético, lower your expectations.
Look at the table. Look at the form. Madrid and Barça were a league above. Not even La Liga level, honestly.
Atlético had risen too, battering other La Liga teams with ease.
And yet?
When they faced Madrid, they were still dismantled.
So from now on, when analyzing stats in La Liga, start by removing Madrid and Barça from the equation.
Compare the rest among themselves. Because Madrid and Barça weren't just leading the league—they were distorting it.
Atlético had nearly reached that same level, lowering the ceiling for everyone else.
After feasting on goals, confidence, and joy—and leaving Valladolid in emotional shambles—Madrid returned to the capital that night, spirits high.
After a good night's rest, on the morning of December 9th, the squad boarded their flight to Japan.
As they took off, media across Europe and East Asia ramped up their Club World Cup coverage.
Just like in late 2009 when Barça headed to Japan, the entire football world was now holding its breath—waiting to see if Real Madrid could complete the sextuple.
Of course, not everyone wanted to see it.
Barça and Atlético fans were the most resentful, naturally.
But even they had to admit—this Real Madrid side was the big boss of world football.
That sixth trophy?
99% locked in.
No team from Asia or the Americas was going to stop them.
※※※
After nearly twelve hours in the air, Real Madrid's players stepped off the plane bleary-eyed.
Even with short naps during the flight, everyone was visibly drained.
The only good news?
It was around 5 a.m. local time in Japan—so thankfully, not too many local fans had shown up at the airport.
Madrid's players boarded the team bus smoothly and checked into their hotel.
Li Ang, like the rest of the squad, took a quick shower and immediately collapsed into deep sleep.
From 6 a.m. to nearly 2 p.m., the entire team was out cold.
Only by early afternoon did they slowly trickle out of their rooms to freshen up and eat.
Jet lag wasn't a concern.
At 4 p.m., Real Madrid's first training session in Japan would begin on schedule.
Today, Pintus was running a physical session—two hours of intense drills.
By the end, even the most energetic stars would be flat on their backs.
But it would set their rhythm right: early sleep tonight, back to normal two-a-day practices tomorrow.
While Madrid focused on adjusting to local time, East Asian sports media had already gone wild.
Photos of Madrid landing in Japan had flooded the internet by mid-morning.
Major sports publications across East Asia competed to publish coverage first.
Chinese network CCTV-5 dispatched a full crew to Japan that same morning.
By evening, as Madrid wrapped up training, dozens of eager journalists waited on the sidelines for interviews.
"Li Ang! Over here!"
Before he could even head to the locker room to shower or change, Li Ang heard He Wei's voice and waved cheerfully, jogging over.
Other Madrid players politely declined interviews, saying they needed time to freshen up.
So when Li Ang stepped forward—sweaty, smiling, completely unbothered—Chinese media had the exclusive.
Japanese and Korean reporters looked on, equal parts impressed and jealous.
Li Ang's hair was trimmed short, just a bit longer than a buzz cut. The sweat clinging to it didn't make him look disheveled—just sharper.
In the soft winter light, his bright smile, chiseled features, and sweat-soaked shirt clinging to his well-defined muscles made him look like a hero straight out of a drama.
Right there, broadcast live on national Chinese television—an idol frenzy ignited across East Asia.
Since it wasn't a live broadcast, Li Ang felt no embarrassment as he greeted viewers back home with ease and sincerity.
He Wei's questions were friendly and familiar, and Li Ang responded simply, sharing some of Real Madrid's expectations for the Club World Cup.
But while he was being interviewed, South Korean and Japanese reporters nearby were snapping photos of him like mad.
Within minutes, the images of Li Ang on the sidelines—sweaty, smiling, and effortlessly charming—went viral, first on Japanese and Korean sports forums, then across broader social media.
Suddenly, the entire online space in both countries exploded with chatter about him.
"This is a young player with incredible strength—his abilities are already at the very top of what Asian footballers have ever achieved.
And his appearance? He puts most of Asia's male celebrities to shame."
A well-known Japanese sports journalist tweeted this along with a photo of Li Ang from last season, holding the Champions League trophy high in celebration.
The tweet garnered tens of thousands of likes and retweets in a matter of hours. The image once again swept across Japanese online platforms.
Back in China, many fans who saw translated screenshots of these Japanese reactions were baffled.
Sure, if Japan produced a football prodigy similar to Li Ang, Chinese fans might admire him, maybe even root for him a little.
But this? This idol-like worship? That level of nationwide fervor? It seemed surreal.
South Korea also sparked buzz around Li Ang, though their media tone was more measured.
Calling him "The Light of Asia" felt appropriate—and Li Ang certainly lived up to the name.
But Japan? Japan was going overboard.
They were practically building him into a flawless idol figure—a footballing superstar with the aura of a pop sensation.
"Yeah, sure, our Little Lion is handsome and cool, but this is just… exaggerated," Chinese fans began posting online.
Some older fans even opened serious threads to analyze why this phenomenon was happening.
One fan, currently working in Japan, dropped a truth bomb that nailed it perfectly:
"If Li Ang hadn't achieved what he has, if he were missing even one Champions League title or league trophy, Japanese media wouldn't be going this wild.
But because he shined both during his loan and since returning to Real Madrid—
because he's practically completed a club-level Grand Slam in just over two years—
he's shattered the 'Asian ceiling' in football.
That, paired with his youth and looks, instantly made him worthy of worship in Japan's eyes."
His reasoning struck a chord.
And since he lived in Japan and had firsthand experience with the media environment, people trusted his words even more.
Meanwhile, Li Ang himself was starting to feel something… strange.
Whether at the team hotel or around the training grounds, Japanese fans waving signs of support for him specifically were multiplying.
And not just from a few hundred to a thousand.
We're talking thousands swelling into tens of thousands—fast.
By midday on December 13th, an entire fan group—almost entirely composed of young women—lined up outside Real Madrid's hotel chanting slogans for Li Ang.
He stood at the window, stunned.
"What the hell? You're this popular in Japan? Little Lion, you sly dog!
You told us you had no fan base here!"
Callejón, seeing the crowd of hundreds of girls outside, jokingly lunged to grab Li Ang by the collar.
Li Ang could only wave his hands and laugh nervously.
He was innocent!
He'd never promoted anything in Japan.
He hadn't even played against Japan during his youth international career.
This was his first time visiting Japan with the team.
He had no idea he'd built such a massive fanbase.
Thankfully, Karanka arrived to ease the situation and diffuse the commotion.
To avoid even bigger media frenzy, Li Ang chose not to appear publicly before the match.
Hotel staff and club personnel stepped in to gently persuade the overly enthusiastic crowd.
When they were told Real Madrid would stay one extra day in Japan after the Club World Cup, and that players would make appearances then, most fans agreed to leave.
But many Li Ang and Cristiano Ronaldo fans stayed, including the massive Li Ang fan group outside the hotel.
That afternoon, while boarding the team bus to head to the stadium for their first match, Li Ang couldn't help but sneak a peek.
He pulled back the curtain slightly and held up a handwritten note against the window—
a message thanking his fans and urging them to go home and rest.
It was written in English, of course.
He had no idea if it worked. But at least he'd done his part.
What he didn't see was the wave of emotion it caused.
In the crowd, several girls were practically in tears.
Nearby reporters snapped photos furiously, catching every moment.
And so, just before kickoff, a news article titled "Li Ang's Girl Fans Cry with Joy" went viral across all three East Asian countries.
In Japan, the focus wasn't on whether these fans were going too far.
It was about how considerate and sweet Li Ang's note was.
Fortunately, by match time, Li Ang had already mentally shut out the noise.
The idol praise and viral stories? They didn't distract him.
At 6:30 p.m., in front of over 40,000 roaring fans at Toyota Stadium, Real Madrid kicked off their Club World Cup opener against Monterrey.
Though technically a neutral venue, the stadium was overwhelmingly pro-Madrid.
With the team's relentless attack and six stunning goals, the atmosphere turned euphoric.
Japanese commentators and guest pundits watching the match couldn't stop gasping.
"This is what the number one club in the world looks like!"
Truth be told, Madrid even took it easy.
They scored four in the first half, then coasted in the second, adding only two more before easing off.
Li Ang didn't get any assists, but he did net a thundering long-range strike from outside the box—
a perfect thank-you gift for the local fans who had shown him so much love.
With a 6–0 demolition job complete, Madrid advanced to face Corinthians in the final on December 16th.
After the match, the team didn't linger.
They immediately packed up and traveled to Yokohama, where the final would be held at the International Stadium.
That evening, after walking the pitch, Madrid's players all shared the same sentiment:
"This feels like another Champions League away match."
No pressure. Just business as usual.
Corinthians might be one of South America's most storied clubs, sure.
But to Madrid?
They felt no different than a mid-table La Liga side.
Mourinho didn't change tactics for the final either.
From kickoff, Madrid pressed high, choked Corinthians' midfield, and launched wave after wave of attack.
To Corinthians' credit, they defended better than Monterrey.
For 20 minutes, Madrid couldn't break through.
But in the 22nd minute, Madrid earned a set piece, and their aerial dominance took over.
Li Ang, using Pepe's screen, surged past veteran center-back Chicão and unleashed a powerful header.
Goal.
Madrid led 1–0, and the floodgates began to open.
Corinthians tried to fight back—really fight back.
But as they pushed forward, Madrid punished them with two clinical counterattacks.
Final score: 4–1.
No surprises. No drama.
Madrid were Club World Cup champions.
Over 70,000 fans in the stadium went wild.
After all, witnessing Madrid complete the historic sextuple—six trophies in a single calendar year—was a memory they'd cherish for life.
Before the trophy presentation, Li Ang approached Corinthians' No. 8 midfielder—Paulinho.
He offered kind words and exchanged shirts.
"Your future is in Europe. Don't give up. Keep pushing," Li Ang said.
Paulinho was visibly touched.
Soon after, the stage was set.
The DJ's voice echoed across the stadium.
And together, Real Madrid raised the Club World Cup trophy—the sixth and final title of 2012.
At that moment, Real Madrid completed their sextuple conquest.
And Li Ang?
He officially became East Asia's Perfect Idol.
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