As Hoyoung walked off the field just before the final whistle, the entire stadium erupted in a standing ovation.
Raúl, who had been waiting on the sidelines for the substitution, extended his hand with a firm grip.
"You worked hard out there. We'll finish the job," Raúl said.
"Please do," Hoyoung replied with a nod.
This was Raúl González—the legendary captain who once led Real Madrid. Now, the torch had passed to Hoyoung, the rising star guiding the team forward.
The atmosphere inside the stadium reached a fever pitch at the sight of Raúl replacing Hoyoung. It was a moment that sent shivers down the spine of every Madridista.
For Woo Ho-young, it was a long-awaited moment.
How many years had he dreamed of standing on this stage?
His eyes lingered on Raúl, and suddenly, the system's familiar text appeared before him.
[Raúl González]
The Lord of the Rings (T)
Lobbing Shot (SU) from the Lord of the Rings
Unbreakable Professionalism (SS)
Indomitable Fighting Spirit (S+3)
Exceptional Football IQ (S-)
(You can pursue one talent if conditions are met.)
(T-rated abilities grant partial senses, but can only be explored after turning 18.)
(S-rank and above require hidden conditions to be unlocked.)
[Exploration Conditions]
1. Train together for 5,000 minutes
2. Win La Liga as a Real Madrid player
3. Win the Champions League with Real Madrid
4. (Hidden Condition: Unlocks after exploring at least one talent)
Raúl—the eternal captain of Real Madrid.
It had taken two years, but finally, Hoyoung had acquired Raúl's talent.
Though the match was not officially over, barring a miracle, Real Madrid had already sealed their victory.
And then—
Just before halftime, Diego Milito had managed to find the net, but that was as far as Inter Milan got.
Beep—
[90 minutes up. It's over!]
[Real Madrid are the champions of the 2009-2010 UEFA Champions League! What a historic achievement!]
Boom!
Right on cue, fireworks exploded into the night sky, illuminating the stadium in a dazzling display of white and gold.
It was the beginning of a championship parade that had been prepared long in advance.
The stadium was a scene of pure pandemonium.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Players and staff stormed onto the pitch, turning the lush green grass into a sea of white jerseys.
[With this victory, Real Madrid, the most decorated club in Champions League history, have claimed their 10th European title—'La Décima'!]
[A historic double! An unforgettable season that will be etched in football history forever!]
They were the kings of Europe.
And now, Woo Ho-young stood at the pinnacle of club football—just two years after making his first-division debut.
But the rewards didn't stop there.
By securing both the 'top scorer' title and 'outscoring Diego Milito in the final,' he had successfully unlocked Milito's special talent.
Milito—known as El Príncipe (The Prince)—was renowned for his elite finishing ability.
[Exploration Complete: Acquired 'El Príncipe's Finishing Ability (U)']
[Merged with 'Unrivaled Finishing Ability (W+2)' → Upgraded to 'Unrivaled Finishing Ability (W+3)']
[Exploring 'Lord of the Rings' Lobbing Shot (SU) → 100 days reduced to 8 days]
(During this period, no other talents can be explored.)
And that wasn't all.
Even Alfredo Di Stéfano's legendary L-class talent was within reach. All it required was playing 100 official matches for Real Madrid and spending 1,200 minutes in conversation with the legend himself.
Truly, this had been the perfect season.
But the night was far from over.
"Madrid! Madrid!"
"Wooooooooooooo!"
When Raúl hoisted the iconic 'Big Ears' trophy high into the air, the roar of the crowd was deafening.
And when Woo Ho-young lifted it next, tears welled up in his eyes.
La Décima.
Eight years of struggle had led to this moment.
And it was all thanks to Woo Ho-young—the hero of Madrid.
"Woo Ho-young! Woo Ho-young!"
"I'll be your fan even in the afterlife!"
For Madridistas, football was life itself, and Hoyoung had become a part of their lives forever.
Woo Ho-young.
His name would never be forgotten in Madrid.
That night, barely an hour after the final whistle, while celebrations raged on at the Santiago Bernabéu, headlines around the world flooded in.
[Woo Ho-young's blistering pace in the Champions League final clocked in at 37.8 km/h at peak speed. Over 40 meters, he even surpasses Usain Bolt. Is this the fastest dribble in football history? Could he challenge for Olympic gold in the 100m sprint?]
[Woo Ho-young's jaw-dropping 'Rainbow Kick' is a top contender for the FIFA Puskás Award, says Italian media.]
[French media: 'Woo Ho-young is the frontrunner for the 2010 Ballon d'Or, but the final decision will come down to the World Cup.']
[Can an Asian player break the 'popularity contest' stigma of the Ballon d'Or and claim the throne?]
[UEFA Champions League's Golden Trio: Best XI, Best Player, and Golden Boot—Woo Ho-young becomes the first and youngest Asian to achieve this historic feat!]
[South Korea's head coach Heo Sung-soo: 'It was only natural for Woo Ho-young to be called up for the 2010 World Cup.']
At the same time, football's biggest clubs began circling like sharks.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, AC Milan, and Bayern Munich had all sent inquiries to Real Madrid.
But at the stadium, when Real Madrid's president, Ramón Calderón, heard the news, he simply smiled. Without hesitation, he issued a statement.
[Real Madrid President Calderón: "No matter how much they offer, we will not sell him. Woo Ho-young is an eternal Los Blancos."]
Little did anyone know, from that moment on, a secret war over Woo Ho-young had begun.