The morning after the match, Gabriel woke to the sound of his phone buzzing nonstop. Messages from friends back in the neighborhood, voice notes from Vinícius shouting in excitement, even distant cousins he hadn't spoken to in years.
"I saw the goal, bro! You're in the papers!"
"Backyard boy made it, huh?"
"Proud of you, Biel!"
He blinked at the screen in disbelief. His name wasn't famous yet—but it was out there.
When he arrived at the training center, he felt eyes on him. Teammates patted his shoulder, some genuinely, others with forced smiles. Lucas, of course, stayed silent, his expression unreadable.
The coach pulled Gabriel aside after warm-ups. His tone was calm, but there was weight in his words.
"Good work yesterday. But one goal doesn't make a career. If you want to stay here, you need to show me that fire every single day. Understand?"
Gabriel nodded firmly. "Yes, coach."
But his chest pulsed with a quiet pride. He was being seen. Finally.
---
Pressure Building
Over the next weeks, Gabriel felt the shift. Coaches gave him more minutes. Local journalists mentioned his name in short blurbs: "Young forward Silva shows promise." Parents in the stands asked, "Which one is Gabriel?"
But with the attention came pressure. Every missed chance now felt heavier. Every mistake echoed louder. Nights were restless. He could hear his mother's tired breathing in the next room, and it reminded him: I can't waste this. I can't go back.
Lucas grew colder. On the field, their rivalry turned fierce, almost dangerous. Every duel was a statement, every glance a battle. But João was there too—steady, supportive, reminding Gabriel to breathe, to keep his head.
"You're not fighting Lucas," João said one evening as they stretched under the fading light. "You're fighting yourself. Win that battle first."
---
A Glimpse of the Future
One Friday afternoon, as Gabriel packed his bag after training, the youth coach stopped him.
"Silva. You're coming with me tomorrow."
Gabriel frowned. "Where?"
"To the main training ground. The first team is short on players for a scrimmage. You'll fill in."
Time froze. His bag nearly slipped from his hand. The first team. The professionals. The idols he grew up watching on TV.
His chest tightened with fear and thrill all at once.
"Don't look so scared," the coach smirked. "It's just a training session. But remember—every chance is a test."
As Gabriel walked out into the evening, the sky burning red over Rio, his heart raced with a new kind of fire. Tomorrow, he would stand where legends stood. Tomorrow, he would touch the grass of the Flamengo first team.
And maybe—just maybe—tomorrow, his life would change forever.