Chapter 47: Reunion Back Home

Iceland! Iceland! A country of only 300,000 people, where the players have day jobs—the goalkeeper is a film director, and there’s even a dentist among them. Yet, this very team managed a double victory over the Netherlands and held Portugal to a draw! Fortunately, I bet on Iceland with a handicap, and having bet on Italy against Belgium the day before, I made a decent profit. Iceland’s first-ever appearance in the European Championship reminded me of the 2002 World Cup.

These familiar faces couldn't help but make Mo Mo recall his first encounter with them. Mo Mo had started from a very high point—Real Madrid—even though he had never played a single official match there. But regardless, it was the legendary Real Madrid! Later, he spent two or three months warming the bench at Hannover 96 and was even placed on the transfer list. Yet, in that short span of time, he displayed extraordinary talent, leading to his call-up to the national team to compete in the world’s premier tournament: the World Cup.

"The number one striker in Asia, Hao Haidong!?"

Just like their first meeting, a smile played on Mo Mo’s face. Hao Haidong clearly hadn't expected this and was momentarily stunned. Then, with a laugh, he punched Mo Mo on the shoulder and muttered, "You brat! You’re starting to outshine me now!"

While Hao Haidong’s words weren't entirely accurate, they weren't entirely wrong either. At least on the level of the World Cup and playing abroad, Mo Mo was now showing the momentum of being China’s premier player. Mo Mo smiled, not taking it too seriously; Hao Haidong remained China’s strongest forward, and his appearances and goals for the national team were far beyond what Mo Mo could match.

Hao Haidong’s appearance was much as it had been when they first met; perhaps the only changes were a few more wrinkles and gray hairs. But no matter how much Hao changed, the one thing that remained constant was his pride—that "I am the best in the world" kind of arrogance.

"If I were your age, I’d definitely be much better than you, believe me!"

Mo Mo watched Hao Haidong’s serious expression and laughed. He believed him—how could he not? If he didn't, there would be no end to it!

"Why did you come to pick me up? Could it be that you’re the other one for Pepsi?"

Hao Haidong’s eyes were filled with amusement and self-satisfaction. "What!? The most influential Chinese football star—do you think my influence isn't as good as yours!?"

Although they didn't make it into the round of sixteen in this World Cup, they had scored three goals, which was something to be proud of for China. In the end, they were in a group with the champions, Brazil, and the runners-up, Turkey; under those circumstances, there was really no room for criticism.

"No, no, I just... I didn't expect it to be just you!?" Mo Mo looked a bit bewildered. Wasn't someone supposed to come pick him up? Was it really just Hao Haidong!?

"I have a car, let’s go! What are you standing there for!?"

You could criticize Hao Haidong for many things, but his integrity was beyond reproach. Not to mention how many of the 2002 generation of national players ended up in prison for match-fixing, the fact that Hao Haidong came out unscathed spoke volumes for his character. It was rumored that when Hao Haidong was abroad, someone tried to arrange a "service" for him, but he had sternly refused. How many people have fallen victim to that specific temptation?

Time passed quickly, and Mo Mo and Mino arrived at the Pepsi company. During the trip, due to the language barrier, Mo Mo had to act as an interpreter for Mino and Hao Haidong. Every time he thought about it, Mo Mo had only one feeling: having a system is truly great!

Lu Wenkai, Chairman of Pepsi (China) Investment Co., Ltd. and President of Pepsi Greater China (Beverages), graciously received Hao Haidong and Mo Mo. Naturally, Mino handled the business discussions, while Mo Mo just went through the motions.

Actually, Pepsi China had originally preferred Ronaldo, as China lacked any truly famous football stars. However, Mo Mo’s sudden emergence and the Chinese national team’s near-miss in the round of sixteen made Pepsi headquarters feel that choosing a local Chinese player might have more impact. While they were indecisive, the rumors surrounding Mo Mo’s transfer and the buzz around him made him the top choice. As for Hao Haidong, with his title as "Asia’s Number One Striker," his history of having met Mo Mo, and their previous training camp competition, it made sense: why not bring them together? One was the new generation’s hope for China, and the other was the veteran standard-bearer.

The advertising concept was already set: a theme of "passing the torch." Now, it was just a matter of discussing the budget with Mino, along with some talks regarding Yanjing Beer.

"How is it!? Abroad? The skills of those Bundesliga players aren't all that, right?" Hao Haidong’s tone was somewhat arrogant. One had to remember that when they sparred at the training base, Mo Mo had been at a distinct disadvantage. Mo Mo could tell from Hao Haidong’s tone that he likely hadn't been following the matches closely—at most, he’d checked the goal tallies. It was just a pity that Hao Haidong hadn't scored many goals that season (though he had scored nine in the AFC Champions League, becoming the top scorer—the old dog still had his bite!).

"Actually, they are very strong in terms of teamwork. I just found a gap, and I happened to benefit from their transition period between the old and the new." Mo Mo’s response was polite, but in Hao Haidong’s eyes, it was a different story.

Hao Haidong was getting older and a bit sensitive; he hated being told he was old. At 34, he still felt he had plenty left in the tank. Mo Mo’s talk of "transitions" and "new and old" felt like a thorn in his side.

"You brat! What? You think your era has arrived!?"

Hao Haidong stood up, looking around. While others might not have understood his intentions, Mo Mo knew exactly what he was doing: he was looking for a ball to test his skills against Mo Mo’s.

In the world of football, it isn't enough to just be handsome. Whether it’s Kaka or Beckham, they are first and foremost excellent players before they are handsome icons. What matters most in football is strength. Look at Ribéry, Eto’o, or Ronaldinho—aren't they just as effective!?

Hard work pays off; after a thorough search, Hao Haidong actually found a football. It was a strange coincidence to find a ball in a Pepsi office building. However, this incident earned Mo Mo a bit of "animosity," as the person who had been holding the ball had actually wanted to ask for an autograph. Since Hao Haidong had intercepted it, one could feel the heat radiating from every pore of his skin after being rejected.

It was a burning desire for battle, an unyielding spirit—the very hallmark of the national team back then: daring to fight, daring to hustle, and playing with heart.

"If that’s the case, then bring it on!"

Mo Mo’s eyes were also filled with a fierce competitive spirit. He had lost to him last time, but this time, it wouldn't happen again.