That evening, he videocalled Isabella. He was excited to share his new sense of purpose with her, the one person who seemed to see him most clearly. He told her about the meeting, about his vision for "The Global Net."
As she listened, her expression shifted from her usual playful teasing to one of genuine, profound admiration. "Mateo," she signed, her movements slow and deliberate. "That is… incredible. Most people, when they get what you have, they think only of themselves. You are thinking of everyone else."
"Casa de los Niños taught me that we are all connected," he signed back. "My success is not just mine. It belongs to everyone who helped me along the way. I am just trying to pay it forward."
"I am so proud of you," she said, and the simple, heartfelt words meant more to him than the roar of a hundred thousand fans. "You are a good man, Mateo. Not just a good footballer."
