"Yazid, is it because we're here? Why are you so nervous today?" Lilia looked at her younger brother Zidane in surprise.
Yazid was Zidane's childhood name, sometimes shortened to "Yaz."
"Zizou," however, was just a nickname—given by an amateur coach in Marseille who would shout "Zizou!" whenever he urged him to run faster during training.
Zidane shook his head, unsure how to explain. Glancing at his son Enzo in the rearview mirror, he said, "Back in 2002, Enzo came with me to Madrid and joined Real Madrid's youth academy."
"He was in the U7s, but he wanted to play with the U9s, so he had to pass a tough trial."
"I stood on the sidelines the whole time—I couldn't even sit down."
"I feel the same way today as I did back then. I'm not sure if it's just nerves."
Lilia paused for a moment. "So… Enzo's moving up to the U13s now?"
Enzo shook his head.
Before anyone could respond, Zidane's four-year-old second son, Theo, suddenly shouted from the back seat, "Siu!"
He was wearing a Real Madrid number 24 jersey far too big for him.
He was a devoted Su Hang fan.
"Is it because of Su?" Zidane's wife, Veronika, smiled knowingly and said to her sister, "You should see our poster wall—it's completely covered with Su Hang."
"These kids absolutely adore him."
"Su often visits Yazid and always brings piles of gifts."
Lilia nodded. "I know—Su, Real Madrid's youngest captain. So, Yazid, what's really going on? Is he putting pressure on you?"
This time, Zidane didn't shake his head. "You all know my decision—after the World Cup, I'm retiring. That'll be my final match."
"Su Hang knows that too, but he thinks before I say goodbye to my playing career, I should also give a proper farewell to my club career."
"He wants us to win something truly meaningful this season—like the Champions League."
"I've won every title there is. I don't crave trophies anymore. But I can see how badly he wants it."
"It's a strange feeling."
"Like watching someone dive into the ocean on a rainy day, shouting for me to join him—and somehow, I actually want to."
Lilia smiled softly. "I get it. That Su Hang has rekindled your love for football, hasn't he? That simple, foolish, but pure belief in victory."
"If that's the case, then go for it. I believe you'll beat Inter Milan! We'll all be there in the stands watching you."
"Just like your first Ligue 1 start—we'll be watching and cheering you on."
"We'll always support you."
"Go enjoy your final moments as a player, my dear brother."
The family kissed Zidane on the cheek.
He got out of the car and boarded the team bus.
...
Later that day, the Santiago Bernabéu was packed to the brim.
Fans filled every corner of the stadium, layer upon layer.
This was Real Madrid's most important match of the season so far.
The good news—center-back Helguera had returned from injury.
Real Madrid's starting lineup was announced:
Ronaldo, Su Hang
Zidane
Baptista, Gravesen, Guti
Roberto Carlos, Helguera, Ramos, Cicinho
Casillas
Even without Figo and Beckham, this was still close to a full-strength lineup.
Only the bench depth had weakened slightly.
Inter Milan, meanwhile, made adjustments of their own.
Although they won the last match, their left flank was clearly exposed as a weakness.
In truth, Inter's current squad—packed with star players—was nearly flawless.
But their left-back position remained their Achilles' heel.
Given Real Madrid's attacking firepower, even a small crack could lead to devastating consequences.
Inter had to adapt.
They shifted Córdoba to left-back to offset his lack of height.
Materazzi returned to the starting lineup, pairing with Samuel in central defense.
Materazzi's father, Giuseppe Materazzi, was a respected Italian coach who later managed Tianjin Teda in China's top league.
Materazzi himself clawed his way up from the lower divisions.
At 1.93 meters, he'd played several roles before finally making his name as a center-back.
He excelled at free kicks, penalties, defending, tackling—and provoking opponents.
A master of trash talk.
Big-hearted, thick-skinned.
His gritty, streetwise style was a world apart from the polished, academy-trained players.
He was forged in football's harsh reality.
Inter's midfield quartet, from left to right, featured Stanković, Verón, Cambiasso, and Recoba.
Recoba's link-up play with Zanetti had already shone in the previous game.
Though this setup placed extra defensive pressure on Zanetti, Inter's trust in their captain was absolute.
He never let them down.
Zanetti also captained the Argentine national team—a tireless, balanced player who could attack and defend equally well, with his only flaw being his modest height of 1.78 meters.
His fellow Argentine, Verón—nicknamed the "White Wizard"—had once been one of Europe's most celebrated midfielders, alongside Valencia's Mendieta, Fiorentina's Rui Costa, and Juventus's Nedvěd.
They were seen as just a step below global icons like Zidane, Rivaldo, and Figo.
Nedvěd would go on to win the 2003 Ballon d'Or, securing his place in history.
Mendieta and Verón, however, saw their careers falter and were soon labeled as overhyped stars.
For Verón, Inter represented his last chance.
And he seized it—reviving his career, becoming the heartbeat of Inter's midfield.
Up front, Inter started with Adriano and Cruz.
At 1.90 meters tall, Julio Cruz was Inter's most dependable backup striker.
He made 129 appearances for the club and scored 49 goals—a remarkable record considering he was often used as a substitute.
Starting him made sense; his chemistry with fellow Argentines like Verón, Zanetti, Samuel, and Cambiasso boosted the team's balance.
If Real Madrid's strength once came from their Brazilian Clique,
then Inter's power lay with their Argentine contingent.
At that time, South American players ruled the football world.
For the goalkeeper, Inter chose Júlio César.
Although Toldo had once been known as the club's original "Saint,"
César had gradually taken his spot this season, earning the nickname "Saint César" from fans.
César was also part of Brazil's national team for that year's World Cup.
Rumor had it that Brazil's first-choice keeper, Dida, would retire after the tournament—making César the favorite to become Brazil's new number one.
Of course, César's most unforgettable moment would come eight years later—
in the 2014 World Cup semifinal, when five-time champions Brazil were crushed 7–1 by three-time winners Germany, shocking the entire world.
César was the man in goal that night.
Meanwhile, Inter's bench still featured strong options—Kily González, Martins, and other capable players and promising youngsters.
All in all, this was set to be a fierce, evenly matched battle between two giants.
...
(35 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser