---

After losing in the money bragging battle, the commoner Ronaldo approached me in a friendly manner from that day on.

– Commoner Ronaldo: (News.jpg stating the 2012 Ballon d’Or should have gone to Ronaldo)

– Commoner Ronaldo: Look at my news today.

– Commoner Ronaldo: It’s from a media outlet that knows its football.

At first, I contemplated blocking Ronaldo’s incessant texts, but the surprisingly satisfying sense of impact got me hooked.

– Ho-woo: Of course, it’s the Portuguese media.

– Commoner Ronaldo: No, that’s not the point.

– Commoner Ronaldo: Jinho, you’re missing the essence right now.

Just look! I sent a message, and he came rushing at me like it was life or death.

– Ho-woo: lol

Rather than rebutting Ronaldo’s messages, I just sent him a message full of laughter and shut my phone.

Woooow─!

Then, my phone started ringing like crazy. Han Gyeouri, who was watching YouTube next to me, pointed at my phone and said.

“Hey, Son Jinho. Isn’t that a phone call?”

“Don’t mind it, it’s spam.”

“Manager Kim Mi-young?”

Last time, my father-in-law sought Manager Kim immediately. Just how famous is she?

Now that I had something to say to Ronaldo, I pulled out my smartphone again.

– Commoner Ronaldo: What’s that annoying word?

– Commoner Ronaldo: Hey.

– Commoner Ronaldo: Jinho?

– Commoner Ronaldo: Why aren’t you reading my texts? You should respect me… read more.

I texted the bombarding Ronaldo back.

– Ho-woo: Hey Chris.

– Commoner Ronaldo: Finally, you came.

As soon as I sent the message, the ‘1’ disappeared, and I got a reply right away.

It felt like he had been waiting for my message till now…

‘No… it must be a coincidence.’

I lightly shook my head and sent my reply.

– Ho-woo: You’re not famous in Korea.

– Commoner Ronaldo: What do you mean by that?

– Ho-woo: You’re lesser than Manager Kim Mi-young.

– Commoner Ronaldo: Jinho.

– Ho-woo: Yep.

– Commoner Ronaldo: You’re ignoring me right now.

– Commoner Ronaldo: This is a very serious issue.

– Commoner Ronaldo: You need to respect me.

– Ho-woo: I’m already respecting you enough.

– Commoner Ronaldo: No, you’re lacking in respect for me.

– Ho-woo: If you feel that way, it’s actually your lack of respect for me.

– Ho-woo: Why don’t you respect me?

– Commoner Ronaldo: Nonsense! I respect you.

– Ho-woo: Well, I can’t believe that.

– Commoner Ronaldo: I’ll soon show you that I’m respecting you enough.

***

A few days after being selected for the Puskas Award and FIFA Best.

[Son Jinho winning the VDV Bundesliga Player of the Year.]

└ Wow, that’s insane!

└ At this point, my brother is a world-class player, right?

└ Seriously;;

[’17 years old’ Son Jinho, becoming the youngest Bundesliga Player of the Year following the youngest FIFA Best!]

└ I still can’t believe it, lol. Who would’ve thought a player like this would come out of Korea?

└ For real, it’s absurd compared to the infrastructure;;

└ Honestly, if this continues, it feels like our brother will be the next in line after Messi and Ronaldo. Right?

└ Yeah ~ but he hasn’t proven himself in the EPL yet~

[Son Jinho, becoming the best player in the Bundesliga, heading towards Asia, and then to the world!]

Son Jinho successfully won the Bundesliga Player of the Year award.

– Kang Chan: Congrats Son Jinho!

– Ki Sung-yueng: Little one, congratulations!

– Lee Cheong-ryong: He takes all the awards.

– Cha Dong-won: Congrats little one, treat us to a meal sometime.

– Ho-woo: I’ll treat on February 6th.

– Cha Dong-won: Ohhh~~ the little one is treating us!

– Lee Cheong-ryong: Wow… is this what it feels like to have a successful younger sibling?

– Son Heung-min: No;; guys, that day;; it’s an A-match;;

– Ki Sung-yueng: hahahahahaha

– Ho-woo: Ahhhh, I thought we had a holiday since there was no match that day.

Just like when I was selected for the World Best, the congratulatory messages poured in from various places.

[‘Cristiano Ronaldo praising Son Jinho as the VDV Bundesliga Player of the Year. ‘Jinho is more than qualified to be the best player after me. I respect him, and Real Madrid should definitely try their best to acquire him for the future.’]

└ Suddenly? Ronaldo is here?

└ No way;; Were Ronaldo and our brother this close?

└ When did they become friends?

└ No kidding, how can they be friends and right in front of Messi, who’s shouting about being the best?

└ hahahahahahaha

└ Looks like they’re really good friends, cracking jokes like that hahaha

[The unexpected wave of lucky letters among footballers? The cause is Son Jinho and Ronaldo!]

└ So Ronaldo is causing chaos with the lucky letter he got from our brother?

└ Funny young man.

└ For real, these guys are hilarious, crazy people hahaha

└ Look at the pure heart of the football gods haha

[‘Football god’ Lionel Messi, following the four-time Ballon d’Or winner, congratulates Son Jinho.]

└ ??? Messi congratulated after Ronaldo?

└ Wow, what’s up with our brother’s connections?

└ So, he’s friends with both Ronaldo and Messi, huh?

Korean football fans started making a fuss over the congratulatory messages from the greatest football players, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

It’s only natural.

How can one resist this?

We’re talking about Messi and Ronaldo, the football gods?

[World-class Son Jinho, is his network world-class too? Proving his connection with Messi and Ronaldo!]

The K-national pride that lay dormant in the hearts of the nation began to stir, and the media buzzed all day about Ronaldo, Messi, and Son Jinho.

[‘A prodigy from the start,’ Director Choi Gi-hyun talks about Son Jinho. ‘Who discovered Son Jinho? It’s me.’]

└ This guy has been showing up frequently these days?

└ Looks like he’s being pushed by the football association.

└ Our brother must be talented if he discovered him, right?

└ Finding Son Jinho << the highlight of life acknowledged

['Play with me!' Ronaldo and Messi reach out to Son Jinho.]

└ Ronaldo is obsessed, and Messi wants him, oh my;;

└ The largest output of the Korean people, Son Jinho oh my;;

└ Isn’t that Kim Jong-il? Otherwise, there’s no one who doesn’t know Kim Jong-il overseas hahaha

└ Well, it is maximum output in a negative sense, though hahahahaha

***

- Commoner Ronaldo: Did you see? How much I respect you.

- Commoner Ronaldo: Now, Jinho. It’s your turn to respect me.

Cristiano Ronaldo demanded a price for publicly airing his respect for me.

Honestly, I wondered if there was any meaning in being respected this way.

Well… I decided to just roll with it.

“Ronaldo is an excellent player. His scoring ability and self-management are admirable.”

In my interview with the German media, I unreservedly expressed my respect for Ronaldo, which had been sealed deep within my heart.

Despite the scandal causing Ronaldo's reputation to crumble in Korea, he still deserves respect as a fantastic player.

'By the way, Ronaldo of the Korean Peninsula, Neymar of the Island Nation, and Messi of the Continent.'

Suddenly, even the new generation playing competitive ball seemed impressive.

Anyway, was he surprised by my sudden praise?

“You picked Messi as the better player at the Ballon d'Or ceremony. Have your thoughts changed?”

The reporter couldn't hide his bewildered expression and asked me.

“No. The best is still Messi. Ronaldo is the second man following Messi. But even so, I respect Ronaldo. He’s a fun and lively person.”

I shook my head as I answered.

After the interview filled with enough respect for Ronaldo ended.

The next morning

[Zino mentions the best football player, ‘After Messi comes Ronaldo.’]

[Zino says Ronaldo is merely second man.]

[Zino's assessment of Ronaldo: 'Not as good as Messi in football but a fun and lively person.']

An interview that contradicted my intentions spread across Europe.

And that evening.

- Commoner Ronaldo: Son Jinho, you betrayed me… read more.

I had to bear receiving another long 11,400-character message.

***

- Ho-woo: Hey. Chris.

- Ho-woo: That wasn’t my intention.

- Commoner Ronaldo: True. Reporters are idiots who make things up.

- Ho-woo: I didn’t make anything up...

While I soothed the sulking Ronaldo.

Time flew by quickly.

As the 12/13 season wrapped up and Pep Guardiola was set to take over Bayern Munich,

Winter break ended, and the players returned to Brakel Training Ground.

“Jinho! Congratulations on the award!”

“Little Captain! Congrats and let's do well in the second half! Pass me one of those unbelievable through balls that I can just tap in!”

“Haha, thanks, everyone. And, Vice-Captain! You're the goalkeeper!”

After a long absence from Brakel Training Ground, I received heartfelt congratulations from the Dortmund officials and players.
I expressed my gratitude to them.

Hmm.

This is what a true adult looks like.

- Commoner Ronaldo: Were you looking for me?

Not you.

 

---