Chapter 55: The Pinnacle of Asia

At the exact moment the final whistle blew, the entire Tianhe Stadium erupted in jubilation! The stands filled with Al Ahly supporters resounded with curses, some fans even weeping in despair, while the Evergrande supporters’ section was awash with tears—though more were laughing through their sobs, shouting and cheering wildly after their outpouring of emotions.

The cheers surged in waves, finally becoming a grand chorus sung by Evergrande fans throughout the stadium. Players from the substitutes’ bench rushed onto the field en masse, vying to celebrate, with the coaching staff racing after them. Tears streamed down their faces, songs burst from their lips; in this moment, distinctions between coach and player faded—they were all revelers, all basking in the glory of victory.

Having just exchanged jerseys with Sangour and standing farthest from his teammates, David Dai was deeply moved. Yet, out of respect for the nearby Al Ahly players, he reined in his joy, managing only a gentle smile. Not far away, captain Zheng Zhi celebrated with the countless Evergrande fans who had traveled from afar, his smile sweet and exuberant. To Zheng Zhi, this was surely the pinnacle of his football career—a bittersweet triumph for a player from a country considered weak in football.

Elkeson, too, was ecstatic. Though he hadn’t scored in either leg of the final, as a player who had struggled with injuries throughout the latter half of the season, to return and immediately capture the AFC Champions League title—what more could he ask for?

Seeing Zheng Zhi, Zhao Xuyang, and other senior teammates overwhelmed with emotion, David Dai steadied himself. He stood naturally at the center of the pitch, upright, with a faintly smug smile—an image that drew cheers from the entire crowd. Unbeknownst to David Dai, the television cameras focused relentlessly on him, the brightest star of the final, capturing his calm composure and beaming his image to fans around the globe. That victorious smile, his handsome and upright form, his striking features—captured countless hearts in an instant, especially among female supporters.

Meanwhile, the stadium exploded with jubilant shouts, with individual names echoing through the roar—captain Zheng Zhi, defensive stalwart Feng Xiaoting, midfield maestro Goulart… Yet the loudest cheers, without question, belonged to one name: David Dai! The name that decided this match. The name that determined Evergrande’s fate in both domestic league and continental competition this season.

At the award ceremony, Evergrande first claimed the AFC Champions League Fair Play Award.

“Congratulations, young man! Outstanding performance!” AFC President Salman said with a smile, handing the trophy to David Dai.

Throughout the Champions League season, David Dai scored 15 goals, far outstripping teammate Goulart, Al Ahly’s Khalil, and Shandong Luneng’s Yang Xu, each with 6 goals. So, after Evergrande received the Fair Play trophy, David Dai stepped up again to collect the award for top scorer.

No sooner had he received the Golden Boot than David Dai was called back to the stage to accept the Most Valuable Player award for the season.

David Dai’s simultaneous sweep of both honors could be compared to Evergrande’s “Cheetah” Muriqui, who accomplished the same feat in 2013. After tonight, this dazzling young man of the Champions League final would surely become one of the hottest prospects in Asian football—especially given he had just turned 21.

Anyone could see he was destined to become a world-class player. Nowhere else in the world could a 21-year-old lead a team to a Champions League crown; it was, in truth, a miracle. And David Dai’s brilliance was not confined to a single match; ever since his first substitute appearance in the Champions League, through to Evergrande’s ultimate triumph, he had showcased daily progress and improvement.

From a wide midfielder with only dribbling skills in his debut, to a prolific goal scorer in the box, and now, an exceptional striker with a lethal long-range shot—David Dai’s evolution had been remarkable. Though he still lagged behind the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, and Ibrahimović, his rapid development and youth made catching up not impossible, and likely not far off.

He had spent one season, claimed both Champions League and domestic league top scorer titles, and proved he belonged among the world’s elite forwards; he could rightly be called one of football’s most promising talents this year. As for the Asian Footballer of the Year award—everyone already assumed it was his.

All of Asia buzzed about David Dai’s next destination; countless teams hoped to sign him, knowing Evergrande could no longer contain his talent. Europe—his next stop was certain. The debate now was whether he would join a mid-tier club and secure a starting role, or fight for a place at a top team in the five major leagues.

Thus, whether it was Premier League sides like Tottenham or Everton, German clubs like Schalke 04, Italian “Chinese teams” like Inter and AC Milan, or teams from Portugal, Turkey, and the Netherlands—all were possible landing spots for David Dai next season.

…

When Zheng Zhi, as captain, received the championship trophy from Salman and lifted it high, Evergrande fans erupted, celebrating with wild abandon. Players crowded around Zheng Zhi, and David Dai followed suit, raising the AFC Champions League trophy high as well.

“Ugly!” David Dai remarked, scrutinizing the trophy in his hands.

The AFC Champions League logo was a red and blue entwined humanoid figure, representing the East and West Asian divisions, and the trophy was shaped accordingly. To David Dai, it looked like a car steering wheel—utterly unattractive.

“Well, ugly or not, the honor is indelible!” He laughed, hoisting the trophy overhead, shouting and reveling in his triumph.

“So this is the summit of Asia?” he mused.

Never before had he felt so proud and so fulfilled.

The feeling of being a champion—how wonderful!

…

The following morning, nearly every sports newspaper across Asia featured David Dai leading Evergrande to glory as their main headline, creating a sensation. His performance—dominating both legs of the final at just 21 years old—astonished the entire Asian football community and sent ripples through European sports circles as well.

Such media coverage instantly elevated the profiles of David Dai and Evergrande, especially David Dai, whose reputation had already soared domestically, and now, thanks to this championship, was known throughout Asia.

The conclusion of the Champions League signaled the season’s end for David Dai and the entire Evergrande squad. At the season’s outset, no one could have imagined that David Dai's debut season would conclude so perfectly.

Meanwhile, with European leagues approaching their winter break and the transfer market about to open, many mid- and lower-tier teams in the top leagues turned their attention to Evergrande, the new Asian powerhouse. The brightest lure was the new Chinese golden boy—David Dai.

Lacking the funds to acquire coveted European and South American talents, these clubs looked to other regions, namely Asia. Domestic football media began daily speculation about Evergrande player transfers, especially David Dai; the rumors could fill a novel.

For example—

“David Dai dreams of joining Inter Milan, with Suning’s young master helping the golden boy fulfill his lifelong ambition!”

“English media shocker: Wenger selects David Dai as Arsenal’s attacking linchpin, aiming to forge a stronger Gunners!”

“Rumors suggest Tuchel wants David Dai for Dortmund, winter reinforcement to target the Bundesliga crown!”

Reports linked Madrid, Inter, AC Milan, Arsenal, Dortmund, and a host of European giants to David Dai, all offering astronomical contracts; even the infamous gossip columnist Luo Seng claimed Real Madrid’s chairman believed pairing David Dai with Ronaldo would make the Galacticos even fiercer.

Amid the overwhelming speculation, David Dai remained silent. He neither announced his intention to stay at Evergrande nor expressed any desire to leave, instead slipping away quietly to rest.

Unlike other Chinese Super League players, who could enjoy a lengthy vacation, David Dai had only a brief respite ahead—the Club World Cup would kick off on the 10th of next month, and as Evergrande’s ace, he was their best hope for a strong showing.

David Dai was determined to enjoy a peaceful holiday before the tournament, refusing all media interviews and not even considering transfer matters. Everything was set aside, and he began his much-anticipated rest.

Though the holiday would last only ten short days.