Rise of a Football God

Watching Kevin De Bruyne's interview in the dressing room alongside his teammates, Sam had a big smile on his face as he clutched the sky-blue jersey on his hand tighter, vowing to cherish it.

Like usual, Austin sat beside him.

Austin could not help but throw a glance at his teammate even as the interview slowly drew to an end. "Thank you, Sam". He muttered.

"Huh?" Sam looked at him. "For what?"

Austin smiled. "For everything," he sighed. "For deciding to play for Enyimba FC".

"Meeting you has truly changed my life".

Austin always appreciated Sam, but this time, Sam could feel that there was something else attached to it. "Hey, you ok?" He asked, concern in his voice.

Austin looked at him, tears welling in his eyes, then he chuckled. "I got a contract offer".

"What? Really?" Sam was genuinely surprised.

"Yes," Austin nodded, even more emotional now. "A contract offer from Europe, a club in one of the top 5 European leagues".

"Wolfsburg contacted my agent immediately after the game, and they've already offered a contract".

Austin slumped in his chair, a look of disbelief in his eyes. "Do you know how old I am Sam? I always thought that I already hit my peak and playing for Enyimba FC is the most that I can do with my football career, but this?" He sighed loudly.

"I never saw this coming, not even in my wildest dreams".

"I'm tempted to say that it's because of my talent and all, but no," he looked at Sam again. "I know it's because of you". He chuckled.

"Remember last season?" A look of nostalgia crept up this captain's face as his emotions cascaded. "Against Al Ahly in the CAF champions league semifinals after we drew 2-2 at home, going to their stadium, I genuinely felt that we were done, but you didn't feel that way".

He sighed again. "I envy your confidence Sam, that mentality to keep on believing till the very end of the game, it's what helped us to win that game".

"I can still remember the nerve-wracking penalty shootout like it was just yesterday". He looked at Sam and chuckled again. "These memories man, they've defined my career…, I can't forget them".

He took a deep breath. "God bless the day you signed the contract with Enyimba FC," he smiled. "It changed my life".

At that moment, Coach Yemi Daniel finally entered the dressing room with a big smile on his face. Enyimba FC may have lost the game, settling for 2nd position in the tournament but at this moment, it didn't feel like that at all.

After getting over the initial disappointment, the players finally understood the significance of their performance today.

They literally played against Manchester City, the best club in all of Europe.

To give them such a tough fight, it was the greatest win of this night.

Coach Yemi Daniel grinned. "Congratulations guys, that performance out there today, I will never forget it".

Saying that, he paid special attention to one of his midfielders, Samuel Moses. "Sam, thank you for everything".

"You've made Enyimba FC great again". He grinned, just in time as Sam's teammates erupted in a round of applause in acknowledgement of his performance tonight. Everything that happened for Enyimba FC on the pitch today was all Sam.

Sam was the superhero sent to save them today.

"Anyways, guys, you can smile better now, the prize money for the silver medalists of the FIFA Club World Cup has been decided," Coach Yemi Daniel smiled. "All of you are going home with 20,000 Euros each".

"Converted to naira, that is approximately 14 million naira each".

"YES!" The Enyimba FC players celebrated excitedly.

All of them were exhausted, but if nothing else, the prize money alone was enough to allay all of their exhaustion and feelings of disappointment.

While Coach Yemi Daniel still addressed the players, Sam was surprised as the familiar interface of his system suddenly lit up with new notifications.

~----~

[You have completed FIFA Club World Cup matchday System Mission: Final]

[You played all 90 minutes of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup final!]

[You scored a hattrick in the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup final!]

[Calculating reward…, please wait…]

[Calculation complete!]

[You have been rewarded with 25 Skill Points!]

…

[You have completed FIFA Club World Cup System Mission: Silver Medalist!]

[You dragged your club, Enyimba FC to clinch second position in the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup only behind Manchester City!]

[Calculating reward…, please wait…]

[Calculation complete!]

[You have been rewarded with 40 Skill Points!]

[You have been rewarded with 2 energy elixirs!]

… Your next chapter awaits on empire

[You have completed a hidden System Mission: Golden Boot]

[You won the Golden Boot of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup!]

[Calculating reward…, please wait…]

[Calculation complete!]

[You have been rewarded with 30 Skill Points!]

[Click to open reward card:]

…

Sam was still in the dressing room alongside his teammates when these series of notifications appeared, leaving him stunned.

This time, his curiosity could not wait though so trying his beast to be as inconspicuous as possible, he secretly clicked on the card hovering before him.

Like usual, immediately after he clicked on the card, the bright light surrounding it became even brighter before it burst into countless golden specks and from the specks came out his reward.

…

[You have been rewarded with an ability card: Thread it like KDB! ×2!]

[Card Effects:]

>Once used, for 30 minutes, you gain the incredible playmaking skills of the Belgian midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne. You get the vision and the skill to play penetrative defense splitting through passes just like KDB<

…

[Due to the incredible state of mind you entered in today's game and due to your unreal performance, Real-time game experience accumulation triggered!]

[Congratulations! Your shooting attribute has improved by +2]

[Your spatial awareness skill has improved!]

[Your zonal marking skills has improved!]

[Congratulations! Your stamina attribute has improved by +1]

[Congratulations! Your passing attribute has improved by +1]

[Your overall player rating has increased to 78!]

…

Player Attributes:

*Pace: 76

*Shot: 77

*Pass: 80

*Dribbling: 74

*Defending: 38

*Physicality: 66

*Stamina: 81

Overall Rating: 78

~----~

Staring at the last in the series of notifications, Sam grinned. 'Just like Coach Yemi Daniel said, playing against the best players is the best way to improve'.

He stared at his captain who jubilated at the prize rewards alongside the others. 'I think he improved too'.

And with that, their time in the stadium in Riyadh finally came to an end.