As the plane touched down in Santos, São Paulo, excitement buzzed through the group. Everyone eagerly looked out the windows, then around the airport as they disembarked. A warm breeze greeted them, gentle and comforting—far from the scorching heat they'd expected.
"This heat… it's not bad at all," Levi commented. "Feels kind of nice."
"It's a relaxing heat," Jamal added. "Not like the blazing summer back home."
"How far do you think England will go?" Levi asked Musiala with a curious grin.
"Bah! They won't even make it past the group stage," Sydney chimed in with a teasing smirk.
"He's right! Haha," the others joined in, laughing at Levi's expense.
Musiala just smiled politely. Having spent years in England, part of him still rooted for them.
"Unfair! I believe they'll win," Levi protested with mock indignation.
"Yeah. You believe they'll win. The rest of us don't," Maxi caught the loophole and teased him further.
Levi blushed and fell silent, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
The mood was bright as they found the agency they'd booked their trip with—almost everyone was in good spirits. Almost.
Carlos wasn't.
Since the moment they'd landed, he'd seemed distant, as if a mist had settled over him. He smiled, but it was thin and practiced. No one noticed—except Sophie. His wife stayed close, gently reassuring him with quiet words and soft touches on the arm.
"Come on, Mom, Dad! There's the bus!" Maxi called from ahead. "I wanna see what the resort's like!"
Richard and Caroline urged everyone forward with cheerful smiles. Soon, the group boarded a sleek, modern TUI travel bus.
Inside, they took up three rows. Isa sat beside Maxi, peppering him with questions about the national teams. A row ahead, Melina and Eli were doing the same.
On the opposite side of the aisle, Jamal and Levi were seated beside Maxi. Behind them, Sydney and Willy were deep in animated debate about the World Cup favorites.
The bus ride took about an hour, with everyone soaking in the tropical landscape until they finally pulled up to their resort.
The place was stunning—multiple pools, waterslides, and a lush, vibrant setting. It was the best vacation spot most of them had ever seen. Wide-eyed and amazed, the kids marveled at everything around them.
Well… most of them.
Carlos wasn't impressed. Not because it wasn't beautiful, but because his mind was elsewhere.
After checking in and hauling their luggage to two spacious group rooms, the kids headed straight for the water. Laughter echoed as they zipped down slides and splashed in the pools. The parents lounged nearby, basking under the sun.
The plan for tomorrow was already in place: they'd visit the training grounds of the German national team.
Maxi would get to see Beckenbauer again.
Once the pools closed, everyone changed and headed to the resort's restaurant for dinner. Bellies full and energy spent, they all went to bed early to be ready for the next day.
The next morning, a tired-looking Carlos roused the group and helped shepherd everyone onto the rented minibus.
As they drove toward the training facility, the scenery of Santos whizzed by in bursts of greenery and vibrant urban life. Excitement crackled through the air.
It wasn't long before they reached a large training complex. Carlos parked the van and stepped out to show the security guards a set of official papers from Beckenbauer.
The guards nodded and waved them through.
When they arrived at the main pitch area, a familiar figure was already approaching: Franz Beckenbauer himself.
Though he no longer held an official role with the national team, his presence alone still turned heads.
Maxi ran ahead and threw his arms around the old man.
"Hi, Gramps! How are you handling the heat?" Maxi greeted him with a smile.
"Good morning, Maxi. When you're as old as I am, the heat doesn't bother you as much," Beckenbauer joked warmly.
"Good morning, everyone. It's great to see you all here," he added, greeting the rest of the group.
After the greetings, Beckenbauer gestured toward the pitch. "Come. Watch the training. And when they're done, you'll be able to meet the players and take pictures."
Just that sentence made the kids explode with excitement.
Pictures with their idols? A dream come true!
They followed Beckenbauer eagerly. On the pitch, stars like Klose and Götze were running shooting drills. The group watched in awe, mesmerized by the speed and power of the professionals.
Maxi, in particular, was fascinated. He had great accuracy for his age, but watching these elite players, he realized just how much more there was to improve—especially his shot power and technique.
Time flew by.
Eventually, Beckenbauer turned to them. "Alright. Everyone can pick one player to take a photo with."
"I want Schürrle!" Levi shouted immediately, already imagining the photo. He had played for Chelsea, after all.
"I want Lahm!"
"I want Neuer!"
"I want Müller!"
One after another, the kids called out their favorite stars.
Maxi hesitated. He'd already taken photos with most of the Bayern players. His heart was torn between several options—but one name stood out above the rest.
Mesut Özil.
He admired Özil's graceful technique, his creativity, his elegance.
"I want Özil," Maxi finally said, his voice calm but determined.
Led onto the pitch by Beckenbauer, the group approached the players.
"Hi there, little one," Özil said kindly as Maxi walked up to him.
"Hey. I really admire how you play—with such elegance. It's inspiring," Maxi said shyly.
"You want a picture?" Özil asked, smiling.
"I'd love one," Maxi replied with quiet excitement.
The photo was taken. One more precious memory to add to his growing collection.
Soon, the rest of the kids had snapped their photos, and the group gathered once again, their hearts full.
The return to the resort was quieter—tired, happy, and filled with dreams.