บท 9: Being first on Donnarumas list
Bayern's next opponent was Asec Mimosas, a renowned youth academy from Ivory Coast. While the academy had produced many talented players, many of them had already been bought by European clubs at low prices, which diluted their current strength. Although they often lost top talents, Asec Mimosas frequently reached the top 32 or 16 in international tournaments. The Gothia Cup took place in early March, and with many players leaving during the winter, the team was significantly weakened. It was already impressive that they had reached the quarterfinals.
Despite the surprise of facing such an opponent, Maxi and his team gave it their all, securing a dominant 4-0 victory.
After the game, everyone returned to their hotels to relax in anticipation of the semifinals the following day. They already knew they would face AC Milan.
Besides the standout performances of Mbappé and Maxi's incredible goal-scoring, De Ligt and Donnarumma had both kept clean sheets throughout the tournament. All four were monsters in this age group.
As they settled in for the night, discussions revolved around AC Milan and potential final opponents, either Ajax or AS Monaco.
For many, it was the last night of the tournament, as the final two matches would be played tomorrow. However, the day after would truly mark the end, featuring a match with the best players from each age group in an 11-vs-11 format.
Two matches would be held: one for U10 to U16 and another for U17 to U19, ensuring no single side would dominate.
Maxi's age group participants were nearly certain to include him, Mbappé, De Ligt, and Donnarumma, though confirmation would come tomorrow.
Maxi soon fell asleep, eager to recharge for the challenges ahead.
The next morning, they warmed up and traveled to the nearby Ullevi Stadium, ready to hit the pitch if they advanced to the final.
Upon arrival, Maxi led his team into the changing rooms as captain.
The warm-up was brief, and they returned to the locker room for one final tactical and motivational speech from their coach. When they stepped into the player tunnel, motivation surged among the team.
Standing beside the referee, Maxi glanced at the towering figure next to him. It was Donnarumma, the goalkeeper who had yet to concede a goal.
"What are you staring at?! Don't think you can score against me! I've never let more than two goals past me!" Donnarumma snorted, noticing Maxi's gaze.
Maxi couldn't help but laugh. Donnarumma sounded too much like some wealthy second-generation kid he'd read about.
"What are you laughing at?!" Donnarumma's attempt at intimidation fell flat, looking more amusing than threatening in his embarrassment.
"You're a funny guy. Gianluigi, right?" Maxi extended his hand toward the goalkeeper.
"Yes," Donnarumma shook Maxi's hand, feeling sheepish for getting so riled up with a younger player.
"Have a fun and enjoyable game, kids," the referee announced as he led everyone onto the pitch.
The match began, and Bayern quickly asserted their dominance.
Just three minutes in, Maxi sent a through pass to his striker. The usually composed forward failed to score against Donnarumma, attempting a series of intricate dribbles but getting thwarted as Donnarumma deflected the ball away.
Bayern's second chance came soon after, as Maxi took on AC Milan's entire defense.
Receiving the ball in midfield, he spotted a defender approaching from the side. With a swift and elegant ball roll, he evaded the tackle.
Next, he executed a La Croqueta to slip past two defenders attempting to double-team him. Now facing only one opponent, Maxi used his explosive acceleration to breeze past.
Now, he was one-on-one with Donnarumma.
Maxi adjusted his position for his favorite shot, the famous Thierry Henry shot.
He struck the ball, confident it would find the net, but Donnarumma managed to tip it into the sidelines with his fingertips.
Surprised, Maxi walked to the corner flag, realizing just how incredible Donnarumma was.
Meanwhile, Donnarumma celebrated his save passionately, shouting in triumph. Sometimes, a great save is worth more than ten goals.
Maxi quickly shifted his focus. If Donnarumma saved ten perfect shots, he'd shoot eleven. If he saved a hundred, he'd make it a hundred and one.
After a moment, Maxi began plotting the best way to take the corner. He noticed Donnarumma standing tall in the penalty area, clearly trying to dominate with his height.
Maxi shifted his position to prepare for a shot. Though he could shoot with either foot, he preferred trivela shots for their beauty and danger.
As he struck the ball, Donnarumma realized what was happening. Shocked, he rushed back, but it was too late. Maxi's shot soared over him into the upper left corner.
Maxi celebrated by placing a hand to his ear, signaling he couldn't hear Donnarumma now. The goalkeeper, visibly stressed, only grew more agitated.
Just five minutes later, Maxi received another through ball and this time found the net, with Donnarumma a fraction slower.
He repeated his celebration, intensifying Donnarumma's frustration.
With each goal, Donnarumma felt a knot tighten in his chest. He was supposed to be unbeatable—what would his teammates think?
The next goal came from a free kick. Donnarumma, distracted and positioned poorly, left his goal wide open. Maxi seized the opportunity and shot toward the empty corner, easily scoring.
With this, it was three goals already—Maxi was now the top scorer against Donnarumma.
The final goal was astonishing. With only ten seconds left, a dejected Donnarumma stood too far forward. Maxi saw this and launched a shot from beyond the half-line. The ball sailed over Donnarumma, bouncing into the goal without touching the ground.
This time, Maxi didn't celebrate, only deepening Donnarumma's humiliation.
As the game drew to a close, Maxi approached Donnarumma to apologize. His provocations had been in the spirit of competition.
"Do you know why Kahn was so great?" Maxi began.
Donnarumma considered ignoring him but curiosity got the better of him. "Why?"
"It was because he forgot every time he conceded a goal," Maxi replied.
"And how would that help?" Donnarumma asked, still pondering.
"He didn't care if a goal went in behind him. If it did, he stood up and pretended it never happened. It didn't matter if the score was 1-0 or 5-0; he always maintained the same stable performance," Maxi concluded, walking away into the player tunnel.
Donnarumma paused, contemplating Maxi's words. While Kahn wasn't his favorite goalkeeper, he couldn't help but admire that mentality. The more he reflected, the more he recognized the truth in what Kahn and Maxi had said.
Even if the score was 5-0, he should still make saves as if it were 2-1. If he had that mindset from the start, his teammates might have equalized.
With this realization, Donnarumma's spirits lifted, step by step.
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