章節 15: May 20th

One of Maxi's favorite hobbies is watching football, especially live. Why? Because on TV, you only see the ball, but at the stadium, Maxi can observe so much more—how the players run off the ball, how they react to different situations, and how the formation shifts under pressure. These little details fascinated him.

Maxi loved studying the field. He was fortunate to have the best view, often sitting in Beckenbauer's seats. Watching Bayern win match after match, almost every other week, filled him with excitement. He could feel the energy of the crowd, the roar of the stadium, and the electric atmosphere with every goal. Maxi dreamed of being like the Bayern players, playing for the world to see, being adored by the fans.

One day, during one of these games, Maxi had an important realization: Football isn't just about scoring or assisting. It's about winning.

With this mindset, Maxi's performance transformed. He no longer played just for goals or assists; his focus was on winning. His mentality, combined with his raw talent, started to rub off on his team. Bayern's U15 squad, which Maxi played for, began improving rapidly. Although their goal wasn't to score as much as possible, they somehow ended up scoring more than ever before—Maxi included.

Beckenbauer noticed this change and couldn't help but smile. This is something no one can teach; it has to be learned, he thought to himself.

Maxi's newfound approach soon attracted attention.

Saturday, May 3rd.

It was a rainy day. Maxi was preparing for his team's match against VfB Stuttgart when his phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he saw an unknown number.

Curious, he answered, "Hello?"

"Is this Maximus Orion?" The voice on the other end was deep and unfamiliar.

"Yes, who's this?" Maxi replied, puzzled.

"My name is Frank Engel. I'm calling to invite you to represent the German U15 national team in two matches against the Netherlands, on May 20th and 22nd."

Maxi's heart skipped a beat. "I'd love to! But I'll need to ask my parents and school for permission first."

Frank Engel chuckled. "That's fine. It's only for three days. I'm sure there won't be an issue."

"I'll get it sorted. Thank you!" Maxi said, but before he could ask for more details, the line went dead.

"Wait!" Maxi tried to stop him, but Frank Engel had already hung up. He stood there, confused and a little stunned. The call seemed real, but he didn't have any of the information he needed.

Despite the confusion, Maxi played his match against Stuttgart with his usual fire. Bayern won 2-0, thanks to one of Maxi's signature free-kick goals and a brilliant solo effort.

After the game, he rushed home to tell his parents about the call. Sophie and Carlos were overjoyed, cheering for him.

But Maxi wasn't entirely at ease. He still didn't know the details, so he decided to call Beckenbauer.

Beckenbauer, who had already heard about Maxi's call, provided all the necessary information, putting Maxi's mind at ease. With everything sorted, Maxi quickly got permission from his school for the three days.

When the news broke, Maxi's friends—Sydney, Willy, Eli, Melina, and especially Isa—were thrilled for him. Maxi, though, felt like a child waiting for Christmas. The excitement of representing his country in an international match filled him with anticipation.

Finally, the day arrived. Maxi traveled to Herzogenaurach, a small Bavarian town. The German U15 team was gathering at the Adidas Camp, located near the company's headquarters. This was no ordinary camp—it was where the senior German national team often trained before big tournaments.

As Maxi entered the camp, he was amazed. Even though he knew of the camp's prestige, seeing it in person was another experience entirely.

In the central area, he spotted a football field and three players already training. Eager to join, he quickly found the locker room, where his jersey awaited him: number 17. It wasn't the coveted numbers 9, 10, or 7, but Maxi didn't mind. He was just grateful to be there.

After suiting up, he rushed out to the pitch.

"Orion, right?" A familiar voice called out. It was Frank Engel. Even though he had called Maxi, seeing him in person took the coach by surprise. Maxi looked so young.

"Yes, sir," Maxi replied respectfully.

"Just call me Frank. These are your teammates," Frank gestured toward the field. "That's Dominik Koch, our goalkeeper, and these two are Jannis Kübler and Moody Chana."

Maxi introduced himself, shaking hands with the boys. The four of them quickly resumed their training. As the day progressed, more players joined. By noon, the full squad had arrived—18 players in total.

During their time at the camp, each player received an Adidas tracksuit with their name embroidered beside the DFB logo. It was a proud moment for Maxi. This was the same gear the senior team would wear at the upcoming World Cup, and now he was wearing it too.

Time flew by, and soon the Dutch U15 team arrived. As the bus with the Netherlands logo pulled up, Maxi was soon pleasantly surprised by a familiar person who stepped out of the bus.