January 28, 2014.
Lower Saxony, northwestern Germany.
Bundesliga Matchday 18: Wolfsburg hosted Hannover 96 at home.
The Volkswagen Arena, capable of holding 30,000 spectators, was buzzing with noise.
Even though the match was in the 85th minute, and they were already trailing 1-3 at home to visiting Hannover 96;
Even though light snow was falling;
The Wolfsburg fans in the stands continued to encourage the players on the field with their loudest songs and constantly waving scarves.
Don't give up!
Keep attacking!
The Wolfsburg players, with the home advantage, also pressed forward relentlessly amidst shouts of encouragement.
However, the more desperate they became, the less effective their attacks were.
Especially with the opponent choosing to defend with all players, Wolfsburg players could only resort to frequent long-range shots to threaten the goal guarded by Germany's national goalkeeper, Zieler!
Watching the tense situation on the field, Wolfsburg's head coach, Hecking, sat on the bench with his arms crossed and a deep frown.
He could, of course, see that the prolonged inability to score was making the players on the field increasingly anxious.
With the full press, the front and back lines were severely disconnected.
At this point, they had to control the tempo and patiently organize their attacks to get closer to scoring.
And, time was running out...
Thinking this, Hecking made a decisive move, stood up, walked to the substitutes' bench, and pointed to a young man with yellow skin, black hair, but a pair of emerald green eyes, sitting at the very end:
"Mark, change your clothes! Get ready to play!"
Hearing his name, the black-haired young man, who was chewing gum, was momentarily stunned.
"Me?"
As his thoughts raced, the black-haired young man immediately stood up.
He took off his substitute vest and training jacket, revealing the number 45 long-sleeved jersey underneath.
And the name printed on it—Mark!
The black-haired young man chewed his gum while stretching by the sideline, his heart also fluctuating:
"I actually have a chance to play?!"
Three days ago, Mark was still a hapless office worker living in 2025.
However, a car accident transported him to 2014, turning him into a Chinese-German mixed-race youth playing for Wolfsburg's U19 youth team!
And just yesterday, due to injuries and absences in the team's forward line, he had just been included in the first team's main squad by the head coach.
Now, he was about to make his Bundesliga debut?!
Although it was already garbage time.
However, getting a Bundesliga appearance record wasn't bad.
After all, he was just a small fry called up from the youth team to fill numbers...
As his thoughts spun, a pleasant female voice suddenly rang out in his mind:
"Ding!"
"Detecting that the host is about to make his professional debut... The strongest football system, awakening!"
"Detecting that the host is too weak, the system is matching an initial card for the host..."
"Matching in progress..."
"Congratulations to the host for obtaining Ronaldinho's exclusive card—Samba Elf!"
Immediately after, an exquisite card emanating golden light appeared out of thin air.
Upon closer inspection, Mark was surprised to find that the pattern on the card was a ponytailed man wearing a Barça number ten jersey, grinning with white teeth and a happy smile.
It was none other than the football elf of the Samba nation—Ronaldinho!
At first, when he heard the system say he was too weak, Mark felt that the system had offended him.
However, when he heard the system proactively match him with a card, and it was Ronaldinho's Samba Elf, he immediately had a change of heart.
"System, I really am weak! It's best to match me with cards of various football superstars, so I can become invincible!"
However, this thought did not receive any response from the system.
Helpless, he could only start studying the card he had just acquired:
"Card Name: Samba Elf"
"Card Effect: Dribbling attribute greatly increased! One-on-one success rate greatly increased!"
"Card Owner: Ronaldinho"
"Dribbling attribute greatly increased? Dribbling success rate greatly increased?!"
"Doesn't that mean I can easily beat anyone one-on-one?!"
As the card transformed into a stream of light and flew into his chest, Mark's mind was instantly filled with a wealth of knowledge and experience related to dribbling.
Such as how to use footwork and rhythm to deceive an opponent's center of gravity into shifting;
Such as various fancy dribbling techniques: step-overs, elastico, rainbow flick...
"I knew it! As a transmigrator, how could I not have a cheat?!"
"Hehehe..."
In the first half of this season, under the combined efforts of Sporting Director Allofs and head coach Hecking, Wolfsburg performed exceptionally well in the Bundesliga!
Especially before the winter break, they had maintained a nine-match unbeaten streak, securing thirty points, which was even four points more than the year they won the championship, setting a club record for the best first half of a season.
However, after entering the winter break, the team experienced fluctuations in its lineup.
Key winger and Croatia international Perisic, along with main striker Dost and other attacking players, were temporarily absent due to injuries, and the contract renewal negotiations with the team's midfield maestro Diego collapsed, meaning he was about to leave the team...
Fortunately, the club's management perceived the team's potential crisis and then spent a high price of twenty million fixed fees plus five million euros in floating clauses to acquire the unhappy Belgium international Kevin De Bruyne from Chelsea!
This Belgian prodigy's performance on loan at Werder Bremen last season was truly outstanding, nearly achieving the feat of double-digit goals and assists.
This was also why Wolfsburg's management and head coach believed he had the potential to become Wolfsburg's core and spent heavily to purchase him during the winter transfer window.
And this match was the team's first game after the winter break, and also De Bruyne's debut for Wolfsburg, carrying significant expectations!
However, De Bruyne's debut, as it stood, could only be described as mediocre.
This was solely due to the presence of the Brazilian Diego in the team!
Diego was the type who constantly shifted between an attacking midfielder and a false nine, requiring a lot of possession.
Moreover, both players were accustomed to playing centrally.
With Diego having absolute ball control, De Bruyne simply couldn't get enough possession to dictate play, let alone showcase his organizational and attacking talents.
By this point in the match, Hecking had also observed that when Diego continuously controlled possession, De Bruyne played very awkwardly, not knowing how to combine with his teammates.
And Diego played particularly selfishly in this match.
Many times, he would dribble past players or take long-range shots himself, with no intention of combining with De Bruyne.
However, he was already 29 years old.
His foot speed, physical condition, and running ability were all much worse than they were seven or eight years ago when he was at Werder Bremen.
By simply blocking his passing lanes and forcing him to dribble or shoot, Wolfsburg's attack could be completely shut down!
This was also one of the reasons why Wolfsburg was trailing by two goals in this match.
Considering that the team's midfield maestro Diego's contract had only six months left, and he had already agreed to terms with Atlético Madrid, with an official announcement expected in a few days.
Rather than letting Diego play every last minute of his final match in a Wolfsburg shirt, it was better to substitute him, allowing him to bid a proper farewell to the Wolfsburg fans at home.
And then, incidentally, to see if De Bruyne could display his organizational talents without Diego on the field.
As for Mark, he was just a youth team player brought on to get an appearance record...
And the live broadcast cameras also noticed this scene of a substitution being prepared on the sidelines.
"It seems Wolfsburg is planning to make a substitution."
"This is correct. Although the situation on the field has suppressed the opponent, Wolfsburg has been unable to score. Making a change might still offer a glimmer of hope..."
"But this substitution is a bit confusing!"
"According to the information, the number 45 youngster Mark Lane is a Wolfsburg youth team player, only eighteen years old..."
Not only the commentators, but even the home Wolfsburg fans didn't know who this black-haired young man, about to come on as a substitute, actually was.
Yellow skin, black hair, green eyes... Was this a Korean or a Japanese?
Regarding the confusion and doubts of the commentators and fans, Wolfsburg's head coach Hecking on the sidelines simply patted the black-haired young man's shoulder and gave instructions:
"Kid, once you're on, run as much as you can and help create space for number 14, De Bruyne!"
"Pass the ball to him whenever you have it!"
Upon hearing this, the yellow-skinned, black-haired young man, who was chewing gum, nodded and replied in fluent German:
"No problem, Coach!"
The next second, a translucent light screen, like a game panel, suddenly appeared in front of Mark Lane:
"Match Missions Issued:"
"One: Debut Goal or Assist"
"Two: Successfully complete five dribbles in a single match!"
"Three: Successfully dribble past a single player five times in a single match!"
"Four: Be named Man of the Match!"
"Five: Score a brace!"
..."Complete the corresponding missions to receive the corresponding rewards!"
Looking at the full page of match missions, Mark Lane couldn't help but twitch his lips:
"I get rewards for completing missions?"
"This system is quite interesting!"
"But... I only have five minutes of playing time, System, aren't you overestimating me?!"
"Man of the Match, hat-trick..."
Soon after, with a dead ball opportunity, the referee blew his whistle, signaling a substitution from the sideline.
"In the eighty-seventh minute of the match, home team Wolfsburg uses its last substitution!"
"Wolfsburg plans to substitute out number 10, Diego, and bring on the young player, number 45, Mark Lane!"
"Diego!"
Turning his head towards the sideline at the sound, he saw his own number on the substitution board held by the fourth official.
At this moment, Diego was also stunned.
But soon, he understood.
This was for him to say goodbye to the fans at home!
So, he walked towards the sideline, waving and applauding along the way, making his final farewells to the fans in the stands.
And the Wolfsburg fans in the stands also gave their warmest parting applause to this midfield maestro who had contributed to the team.
"This should be Diego's last match for Wolfsburg."
"Yes, just a few days ago, several news outlets reported that Diego had not renewed his contract with Wolfsburg and was preparing to transfer to La Liga's Atlético Madrid..."
"Clearly, Hecking substituted him to allow him to bid farewell to the fans..."
Coming to the sideline, Diego also very amicably high-fived the black-haired young man who was replacing him.
Although he didn't know the other's name.
However, he still casually offered his blessings:
"Good luck, fella!"
Facing this Bundesliga star, Mark Lane immediately replied politely:
"Thank you, good luck to you too!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he stepped onto the Bundesliga pitch!
With the shouts of the fans echoing in his ears and the faint smell of grass lingering in his nose, Mark Lane took a deep breath and felt refreshed!
Is this the taste of the Bundesliga?
Loved it, loved it!
Looking at De Bruyne, Olić, Gustavo, and other football stars he had only seen on television, now fighting alongside them, Mark Lane couldn't help but mutter to himself:
"This Wolfsburg team is full of stars!"
However, when he saw that the match time had already reached the eighty-eighth minute, his eyes sharpened:
"With injury time, my debut might only be less than five minutes..."
"But that's enough for me to do something!"
After coming on, the Wolfsburg young player, Mark Lane, wearing the number 45 jersey, took up the left-winger position.
And his direct opponent was the Japanese national player, Hiroki Sakai.
Hiroki Sakai first sized up the young man in front of him, then asked in German:
"Korean?"
However, upon hearing this, the black-haired young man's face immediately turned cold, and he retorted in fluent German:
"I'm Chinese! Your whole family are Koreans!"
As soon as these words came out, Hiroki Sakai was completely stunned.
What?
Is he cursing me?!
"Trailing one-three, they've substituted out their midfield maestro and brought on an eighteen-year-old youth team player, Mark Lane..."
"With injury time, there are about five minutes left, and a two-goal deficit is indeed very difficult..."
"It seems Hecking intends to give up..."
The commentator's doubts were also what all Wolfsburg fans were thinking.
They didn't know why the coach would send on an unknown young player at such a critical moment.
Other than giving up the match and letting the youngster experience the Bundesliga atmosphere, they couldn't think of any other reason.
However, they could also understand this approach.
After the substitution, the dominant Wolfsburg continued to control the ball.
Defensive midfielder Gustavo passed the ball to De Bruyne, who had dropped back into the center; the latter feigned with a shoulder drop, successfully turning away from his marker.
Looking up, he saw that the right winger, Caligiuri, was tightly marked by an opposing defender.
And the black-haired young man on the left was in an unmarked open space, raising his hand for the ball.
Without much thought, he sent a comfortable ground pass to this Wolfsburg young player, who had just entered the field ten seconds ago.
A trap, a step-over—Mark Lane completed his first touch in the Bundesliga.
At the same time, perhaps wanting to give this ignorant young upstart a taste of his own medicine, Hiroki Sakai, who had initially let him receive the ball, suddenly accelerated and charged forward!
"Hmph!"
"Can Chinese people play football?!"
Just as Hiroki Sakai leaned forward, extending his right foot to try and steal the ball, Mark Lane personally felt the immense change brought to him by the "Samba Elf" card.
In his eyes, Hiroki Sakai's change in body weight and defensive movements seemed like slow motion, full of flaws.
In his mind, more than a dozen ways to get past the opponent appeared!
For example, the Elastico;
For example, the Rabona;
For example, the V-pull...
"So, this is how Ronaldinho viewed opponent's defense..."
In a flash, Mark Lane chose the most humiliating way to get past his opponent:
The Wolfsburg young player, number 45, stepped on the ball with his right foot and pushed it forward with the momentum; Hiroki Sakai only felt a chill, and the ball slipped between his legs!
"What?!"
"Nutmeg!"
"Beautiful!"
This beautiful dribble also made the fans' eyes light up.
"This kid's got something!"
"Good footwork..."
However, the next second, they cursed out loud:
"What the hell is this kid doing?!"
Because after getting past Hiroki Sakai, Mark Lane did not speed up and dribble the ball quickly down the wing.
Instead, he stopped in place, with the ball under his foot.
This scene took both the fans and the Wolfsburg players by surprise!
At this moment, the humiliated Hiroki Sakai immediately turned around and charged fiercely at the slender black-haired young man again.
However, what no one expected was that Mark Lane seemed to have anticipated his move; he pulled the ball back with his right foot, then gently nudged it with the outside of his foot, and the ball once again went through Hiroki Sakai's legs!
"What the f***?!"
"Another nutmeg?!"
After being nutmegged twice in a short period, Hiroki Sakai cursed "Baka Yarou" under his breath, then instinctively grabbed Mark Lane, who was trying to get the ball.
A piercing scream of "Ah" was heard, and Mark Lane fell to the ground with the momentum.
The next second, a sharp whistle blew!
Such an obvious foul earned him a direct yellow card from the referee, who jogged over to him!
Hiroki Sakai didn't protest, just glared menacingly at the black-haired young man on the ground.
Feeling his murderous gaze, Mark Lane, sitting on the ground adjusting his socks, raised his chin at him and showed a mocking smile.
Japanese, I'll dribble past you again later!
"The number 45 young player, who just came on, has won a free-kick for Wolfsburg."
"Two nutmegs, very entertaining! But it did drag out the attack a bit..."
"However, this should be an instruction from Wolfsburg coach Hecking. After all, if they can't break Hannover's goal from open play, then what about set pieces?"
At this moment, the team's chief free-kick taker, Ricardo Rodriguez, also stepped forward:
"Well done, fella!"
Grasping Rodriguez's outstretched hands, Mark Lane used the leverage to stand up abruptly, then smiled:
"Thanks, fella! It's all yours..."
With that, he walked away.
Looking at the other party's calm demeanor, Rodriguez was a little surprised.
Was this really his first appearance in the Bundesliga?
How did he manage to be so calm?