[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back":3,"chapter-football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-chapter-888":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Football: At 16, Let Me Retire and Come Back?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2300858,4499,"Chapter 888: I","football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-chapter-888",888,"\u003Cp>The day after the third-place match was the final of this World Cup—Argentina versus France.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The World Cup has reached its conclusion, yet the hype for this match remains just as intense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding the “champion’s curse,” France’s head coach Deschamps replied: “I believe in my team, and I believe in myself. If we can defeat the biggest underdog in the World Cup, we can defeat Argentina too. The champion’s curse does not apply to us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poor China’s team was dragged out for public shaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was nothing to be done; trapped in the curse, France urgently needed something to boost team and fan confidence—and China was naturally the best target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, Dembélé answered questions about the final.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the French forward’s second World Cup final; four years ago, Dembélé was merely a substitute, a true supporting player.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in this World Cup, Ousmane had become one of France’s key players!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um, we beat China in the semifinals with some luck, but I think we performed quite well in all aspects. We had the ability to advance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve always believed Tom is the best player in the world, and I really hope he advances.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dembélé sighed: “But he’s in the same half-bracket as me, so there’s nothing I can do. I’ll say sorry to him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speaking of TY, it seems TY is eligible to compete for the Golden Boot and Golden Ball this World Cup. What’s your view?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dembélé frowned, as if organizing his next words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At this point, Tom has the highest chance of winning the Golden Ball. Kylian has also done very well—he has a chance too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about Messi? As one of the finalists, Leo has some advantage in the Golden Ball voting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I don’t think so, haha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though a former Barcelona player, Dembélé didn’t seem to like Messi much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If anyone can beat Tom and win the World Cup Golden Ball, I hope it’s me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click-click!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But statistically, I’ve already lost my chance—I’ve scored too few goals, haha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dembélé looked at the reporter in front of him: “I’ve already lost my chance, so Leo won’t have a chance either. This World Cup’s Golden Ball belongs to Tom—there’s no debate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dembélé’s pre-match interview sparks controversy: I’ve already lost my chance at the World Cup Golden Ball, so Messi won’t have a chance either; I’ll protect Tom’s Golden Ball, so Argentina must be eliminated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dembélé had played for Barcelona, yet this statement was truly inappropriate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slight analysis reveals Dembélé has fully aligned himself with TY’s camp, meaning he must now treat Messi and CR7 as rivals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the interview video surfaced, Dembélé was quickly criticized, especially by Barcelona fans, who directly labeled him a “traitor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You were once a Barcelona player—how can you stand against Messi?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fans raged fiercely, but unfortunately, Dembélé didn’t care at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and Tang Ye are the same kind—people who think for themselves; if they believe something is right, it’s right, regardless of what others say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was once a Barcelona player, but Dembélé identifies more strongly as a Manchester United player.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His time at Barcelona wasn’t good—he knew who had brought him all the way to the Champions League final.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, come on!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What champion’s curse? That’s all nonsense!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The match was about to begin; France’s players were restless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dembélé sat in the corner, holding his phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Ousmane: Believe me.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Tang Ye: Haha, you’ll win the title, go for it.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Ousmane: No no, what I mean is, I won’t let Messi score more than you.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Tang Ye: …】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Tang Ye: That’s unnecessary—winning the match is what matters. Be careful though; Argentina in the knockout stage seems much stronger than in the group stage.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Ousmane: Say nothing more—just watch me.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ousmane!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hernandez called out to Dembélé: “Damn, you’re playing in a World Cup final and still on your phone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nervous? Calling Mom?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, Ousmane!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dembélé shoved his phone into the locker and stood up to defend himself: “I didn’t do anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sun front page headline: With the World Cup final approaching, TY spotted meeting Saudi Crown Prince Salman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dongqiu Di top post: Champion retained! France 2-1 come-from-behind win over Argentina, Mbappé scores twice, Dembélé provides two assists, named Man of the Match. (Comments: 468,276)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dembélé delivered as promised, using his elite wing crossing to completely neutralize Argentina’s defenders; throughout the match, Argentina’s fullbacks had almost no chance to find Messi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a 90-minute match, Dembélé burned the last of his reputation from Barcelona.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Amazing, both sides played well, but I still feel sorry—it should’ve been us vs. France in the final】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【66666, Dembélé is loyal to his country, serving only the Great Tang Dynasty】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Real C, feels like Dembélé could finish second in next year’s Ballon d’Or】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Satisfied—tell me who won the World Cup Golden Ball!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【What the hell, Enzo, are you eating shit? Can’t you even pass to Messi? Even one pass would’ve helped avoid this disaster】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“3, 2, 1!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“France!!!!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【2022 FIFA World Cup Champion: France】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve always seemed very regretful about eliminating China.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dembélé answered frankly: he’d have preferred to face China in the final, not Argentina—showing no regard for Messi at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… I’ve always had a decent relationship with Tom—many people know this. I like gaming, I like skipping training. Back at Dortmund and Barcelona, I relied purely on talent, showed little, and even then I felt no pride in winning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But after joining Manchester United, everything changed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of Manchester United, Dembélé raised his Man of the Match trophy, smiling: “Manchester United changed everything. Tom brought me to where I am today—I’ve entered the top five for the Ballon d’Or more than once. Uh, how many times exactly? I forgot, but more than once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tom helped me a lot in gaming—I got better at it—but I believe his greatest help was in football, without question. Maybe that’s why eliminating China felt uncomfortable. Honestly, I’d rather eliminate any other team… just not China.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Dortmund to Barcelona to Manchester United, Dembélé’s journey truly deserves the term “prodigal son.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His transformation is so profound—compare his post-match interviews across these phases and you’ll feel it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But, haha, after the World Cup comes club football—no such worries there. Next year is the Club World Cup.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, next February,” the reporter added.\u003C\u002Fp>",1052,"2026-06-20T06:50:12.695Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","dc39de4f28e08990293785957b72a5966e87020d8ebb63b2e8fb52a92e4fc6f8","football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-chapter-889","football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-chapter-887",918,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffootball-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-cover.jpg"]