Chapter 50 : Golden Boy

The applause from the crowd echoed through the Palais des Congrès as the opening sequence ended, and the spotlight turned onto the stage. The giant screens faded to black, and the two hosts, Ruud Gullit and Kate Abdo, took center stage.

Ruud, his presence commanding the attention of the room, gave a brief smile before addressing the audience. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the most prestigious night in world football," he began, his voice filled with warmth and excitement. "Tonight, we come together to celebrate the beautiful game, to honor the very best in football, and to acknowledge the players, coaches, and moments that have defined 2015."

Kate, standing beside him with her usual grace, added, "We're here in Zurich, the heart of the football world tonight, as we prepare to award the Ballon d'Or, the ultimate individual prize in the sport. It's a night where legends are celebrated and new stars are born. It's an honor for us to be here with you, bringing this special event to fans across the globe."

Ruud nodded and turned to face the audience. "This evening is about more than just football. It's about the passion, the sacrifices, and the stories behind each of these extraordinary athletes. We'll be witnessing history in the making tonight."

Kate smiled. "Indeed. And while we'll be talking about the best of the best in football, we also get to witness some truly magical moments. From the top goal scorers to the incredible team dynamics, tonight we'll see what makes this game so special."

As they spoke, the excitement in the room was undeniable. The stage lights brightened, signaling the start of the evening's first awards. The camera pans over the crowded hall, where the football elite, including Messi, Ronaldo, and Neymar, sat in anticipation.

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With the introduction complete, the hosts, Ruud Gullit and Kate Abdo, introduced the first awards of the evening. The FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal of the year was presented first. The screen displayed some of the most incredible goals from the previous year, building anticipation as the audience eagerly awaited the announcement.

Ruud spoke again, his tone respectful. "Now, it's time to recognize the player who scored the most stunning goal of the year. This award represents the beauty and brilliance of football—those unforgettable moments that make us all fall in love with the game."

Kate added, "Let's take a look at the incredible goals that were nominated for the Puskás Award."

The screen showed the nominated goals, including beautiful strikes from players like Wendell Lira, Lionel Messi, and Alessandro Florenzi. As the audience watched, a sense of excitement filled the room, knowing that a defining moment in the sport was about to be honored.

After the clips finished, the FIFA Puskás Award was handed to Wendell Lira, the Brazilian forward who won for his stunning bicycle kick goal.

The applause was loud as Lira took to the stage to accept his award, giving a brief speech in which he humbly thanked his teammates and fans. His moment was followed by more cheers, signaling the success of the first award.

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The spotlight shifted back to Ruud Gullit and Kate Abdo as they introduced the next category, celebrating the best female footballer of the year.

Kate announced, "Next, we have the FIFA Women's Player of the Year Award, an honor that recognizes the incredible contributions of women in football. It is an honor to witness the growth of the women's game and the talent that continues to emerge year after year."

The nominees were introduced, and the audience clapped in appreciation for the women who had helped elevate the sport. The winner of this prestigious award was Carli Lloyd, the American midfielder, who had helped lead her team to victory in the 2015 Women's World Cup.

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After this, the Coach of the Year Award was presented to Luis Enrique, the manager of Barcelona, who had steered the team to a historic treble that year.

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After the Coach of the Year Award, the hosts, Ruud Gullit and Kate Abdo, returned to the stage to introduce the next major honor—the Golden Boy Award.

Ruud addressed the crowd, his voice full of excitement. "Now, we move on to one of the most anticipated awards of the evening—the Golden Boy Award. This prestigious award is presented to the best young player in world football, under the age of 21, who has shown extraordinary talent and potential. The nominees for this year include Anthony Martial, Kylian Mbappé, and Nico Cryuff."

Kate added, "Each of these players has had an incredible year, but tonight, only one will take home the Golden Boy award."

Ruud smiled and continued, "To present the award, we have a true legend of the game, a man who is a footballing icon—Juninho, one of the greatest free kick takers in history."

Juninho, the Brazilian legend, walked onto the stage holding the envelope containing the name of the winner. He opened it, and with a smile, announced, "Nico Cryuff."

The crowd erupted in applause as Nico stood up, his heart racing. He made his way to the stage, the spotlight following him as he approached Juninho.

Juninho handed him the award, and Nico immediately smiled, saying, "Juninho, you're my favorite player. Thank you for presenting me with this."

Juninho chuckled warmly. "You're welcome, Nico. It's an honor."

Nico took the Golden Boy Award from Juninho and walked to the microphone. He placed the award on the stand, ready to speak. But before he could say anything, Ruud Gullit stepped forward.

Ruud turned to the crowd, his voice full of admiration. "Before Nico speaks, let's take a moment to look at the incredible stats behind his performance. These are the numbers we've seen from legends who've graced the football field for a full season."

He paused for emphasis before continuing, "At just 14 years old, Nico graduated from La Masia, Barcelona's famed academy, and was loaned to Real Betis in the Segunda División in January. In just 23 matches, Nico scored 29 goals and provided 14 assists."

Ruud glanced at Nico before continuing, "And then, at just 15, he was loaned to Manchester City from Barcelona. In just half a season, he has played 24 matches across the Premier League and Champions League, scoring 29 goals and providing 27 assists."

The audience applauded, clearly impressed by Nico's extraordinary achievements at such a young age.

Ruud finished, his tone filled with reverence, "These are the kinds of stats we've come to expect from legends, players who have been in the game for years. But tonight, we see Nico Cryuff, and at just 15, he is already showing the world what it means to be a true talent."

Nico, humbled by the recognition, stepped up to the microphone to speak.

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Nico stood at the microphone, holding the Golden Boy Award in his hands, his face beaming with pride. He took a deep breath before addressing the crowd.

"First, I'd like to thank everyone for this honor," he began, his voice steady but filled with gratitude. "Thank you to the journalists who voted for me, for believing in my potential."

He paused for a moment, his gaze shifting toward his grandparents sitting in the audience. "I also want to thank my grandfather, Johan Cryuff, for everything he's done for me—his guidance and support mean the world. To my coaches at La Masia, thank you for shaping me into the player I am today."

Nico's eyes softened as he continued, "A big thank you to Pepe Mel, my coach at Real Betis, for believing in me and pushing me to my limits. And to my teammates at Betis, thank you for making me feel like part of the family."

He then looked toward the Manchester City table, smiling warmly. "I'd like to thank Pep Guardiola and my teammates at Manchester City. It's been an incredible experience working under Pep, and I'm grateful to be part of such a talented group of players."

Nico paused, his tone lightening with humor as he continued, "And finally, I wish to thank someone more than anyone else. Whoever it was that gave the idea of having Juninho present this award to me—thank you. I am a huge fan of his, and I've spent hours mastering his free-kick technique. Hats off to you! Thank you the most."

The audience laughed, sensing Nico's playful sincerity, and the atmosphere lightened with amusement.

Nico gave a small, humble shrug. "That's it. Nothing more to say."

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Kate Abdo then stepped forward with a smile. "You've certainly made your mark already, Nico. But there's one thing I'd like to ask. The term 'The Crown Jewel of La Masia'—how did that come to be? When did it all start?"

Nico chuckled, glancing at the audience before responding. "I think it started when I was playing for Barcelona's U-19 team at 13. I scored my 800th goal for La Masia across all age groups, and that was when Marca, the Spanish newspaper, wrote about me. The headline was, 'The Crown Jewel of La Masia.' I have no idea why they chose that, but I guess it just stuck. And from then on, it kind of came into existence."

The audience chuckled again, clearly enjoying Nico's humble and down-to-earth nature as he shared the story behind the nickname.