At 15 years old, Maradona Pérez had already established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in the Real Madrid Castilla team. His skills were unmatched, and the world was beginning to take notice. The pressure on him was increasing, but it didn't faze him. His birthday, on the eve of the Barcelona B match, had come, and he celebrated it in his usual quiet, solitary manner. Florentino Pérez, his grandfather, had arranged a small family dinner for the occasion. "You're becoming a man too quickly," his grandfather commented with a smile, watching as Maradona unwrapped a gift—a vintage Real Madrid jersey worn by Zidane himself. It was a symbol of what Maradona could one day achieve, but the young prodigy was already thinking beyond these gifts. As the night wore on and Florentino left for a meeting, Maradona retreated to his room, eager for his yearly lottery draw. The system, with its god-like talents, had already gifted him immensely over the years. He had unlocked Diego Maradona's Talent, Toni Kroos' Pinpoint Passing, and Zinedine Zidane's Vision and Dribbling, each ability pushing him closer to his goal of being the greatest. Now, as he turned 15, it was time for his next reward. He flicked his wrist, the lottery wheel spun, and after a moment of anticipation, it came to a halt—Ronaldinho's Flair. The system had given him the ability to perform dazzling, unpredictable tricks, combined with exceptional close control and a flair for the unexpected—perfect for a player like Maradona, who lived for the moment of magic.
The next day, as the clock ticked down to the match against Barcelona B, the air was thick with excitement. The media had already built up the clash as a battle of two of Spain's brightest stars: Maradona Pérez and Lionel Messi. At 15, Messi had already shown signs of brilliance, but to Maradona, this wasn't just about Messi—it was about proving once again that he was the best. As the teams lined up, the tension between the two players was palpable. There were glances exchanged, silent challenges, but Maradona wasn't intimidated. He was here to dominate.
From the start of the match, Maradona's Ronaldinho-esque flair was on full display. His dribbling was unpredictable and dazzling, leaving defenders on the ground as he weaved past them with ease. His ability to pull off impossible tricks in tight spaces was now enhanced by the ability to read the game with an almost magical foresight. In the first half, he created two near-perfect chances with a series of feints and flicks that left Barcelona B's defense scrambling. He even pulled off a nutmeg that sent the crowd into a frenzy, creating a clear chance for his teammate, but the shot went wide. Messi, though, wasn't one to shy away. The two of them were locked in an unspoken duel, each trying to outshine the other. But as the match wore on, Maradona's dominance became clear.
In the 60th minute, with the score tied at 1-1, Maradona received the ball just past midfield. A Barcelona midfielder tried to close him down, but with a cheeky flick of his boot, Maradona nutmegged the opponent, evading the pressure. He then sent a ball through the defense, slicing open the backline and setting up a teammate for a clear shot on goal. The pass was perfect—no one else could have made it. His teammate finished coolly, giving Castilla the 2-1 lead.
The match reached its climax in stoppage time. With the score at 2-1, and the minutes ticking away, Maradona received the ball just outside the box. Messi was hot on his heels, determined to stop him. But Maradona, with all the grace of Ronaldinho, feigned to shoot before flicking the ball over Messi's head with a perfectly timed backheel. The crowd gasped, and in that instant, Maradona took the shot—left-footed, curling it past the goalkeeper and into the top corner. It was a goal that demonstrated his flair and ability to perform under pressure. As the ball hit the net, the crowd erupted into cheers, chanting his name. Maradona jogged away, looking at Messi with a quiet, almost imperceptible smile. Messi, despite the defeat, nodded at him, recognizing the superiority in Maradona's game.
After the match, the media couldn't contain their excitement. "Maradona Pérez: Madrid's New Galáctico?" was the headline on every major sports site. The media attention had become overwhelming, but Maradona didn't mind. He had learned to thrive under pressure. His skills were now at a level where he could make a difference in every game, and he wasn't just a rising star—he was a future legend.
Off the pitch, Maradona's stock market investments had paid off handsomely. In a matter of months, his knowledge of the future tech boom had made him an incredibly wealthy young man. Companies like Google, Amazon, and Apple had seen their values soar, and Maradona had invested heavily, reaping the rewards. His wealth ensured that he would never have to worry about money again, allowing him to focus solely on football, his true passion. The pressure from the media, the expectations from his grandfather—none of it mattered. Maradona Pérez was on the path to becoming not just a Real Madrid legend, but the greatest footballer the world had ever seen.