On August 17, after the recent turbulence settled down, FIFA dropped a major bombshell.
Starting in 2010, the Ballon d'Or under France Football and FIFA's World Player of the Year award would be officially merged!
The Ballon d'Or and World Player of the Year had long been considered the ultimate individual accolades for football players.
These were the highest honors that countless footballers chased throughout their careers.
For a long time, the two awards were either presented separately or sometimes jointly to one or two of the best-performing players.
But as the saying goes—there is no definitive ranking in literature, but there is in martial arts.
Debates over which award had more weight, the Ballon d'Or or FIFA's World Player of the Year, had always been a hot topic.
Especially with FIFA's notorious manipulation and questionable decisions over the years, the prestige of the World Player of the Year had sharply declined.
Therefore, both parties agreed that, starting from 2010, the two awards would be merged.
The new award would be named the FIFA Ballon d'Or.
There would be no competing equivalent.
In other words, from now on, football would elect the top player of the season—no co-winners, no shared honors.
The voting rules would follow the established FIFA format: votes split evenly among national team coaches, captains, and selected media representatives—each group accounting for one-third of the vote.
Once this news broke, it sent shockwaves across the globe.
This meant that every season, only one player would be crowned the best. No consolation prizes.
Once the change was announced, FIFA also released the shortlist of nominees, including Suker, Xavi, Iniesta, Modrić, Sneijder, Srna, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Messi.
During this period, the award's restructuring became the most discussed topic among fans and pundits.
"This change is really something," Casillas said with a pursed-lip smile.
He couldn't say whether it was good or bad.
But the sudden reform did leave many feeling unsettled.
Still, it didn't affect Casillas too much. After Spain won the 2010 World Cup, with Raúl retiring from the national team, Casillas became the captain.
This gave him voting rights for the Ballon d'Or.
Likewise, Srna, as captain of the Croatian national team, also held voting rights.
"Who are you voting for?" Casillas asked Srna.
Srna patted his chest, grinning, "Myself, of course!"
Everyone laughed—they knew he was joking.
"Shameless!" Suker muttered under his breath.
Srna had followed Inter Milan to a historic treble, and Croatia had reached the World Cup semi-finals. His nomination was deserved.
But lacking commercial value, global fame, and influence, he was unlikely to win.
At the very least, Sneijder had the edge in team achievements.
"I'm kidding!" Srna laughed, shrugging. "I'm voting for Suker."
Casillas nodded at that.
This year's voting was especially contentious.
The World Cup, Euro, and Champions League all held massive weight in these decisions.
Sneijder had led Inter to the treble and finished World Cup runner-up.
Xavi and Iniesta were central to Spain's World Cup-winning midfield.
Suker had won the Golden Boot in the Champions League, La Liga, and World Cup. He also secured the La Liga and Copa del Rey double, reached the Champions League semis, and finished third at the World Cup.
Among these four, the competition was fierce.
Sneijder lacked individual awards and commercial appeal despite strong team success.
Xavi and Iniesta had no club trophies, though their national team achievements were unrivaled.
Suker, with his dominant individual form and solid team results, stood out.
He didn't dominate in every category, but his edge was significant.
After the announcement, Florentino Pérez met with Suker and reaffirmed that he would fully support his bid for the newly reformed Ballon d'Or, as previously promised.
Florentino also reached out to Casillas, asking him to vote for Suker—something Suker himself was hesitant to request.
Casillas found himself torn.
Xavi and Iniesta were his national teammates—how could he choose between them?
If he voted for Suker, how would Xavi and Iniesta feel?
Suker spoke up, seeing his dilemma: "Just vote according to your conscience. Don't worry about me."
It wasn't that Suker didn't want Casillas's vote.
But he was confident—his position was strong.
It would be great to get the vote, but if not, it wasn't a deal-breaker.
Suker had a great reputation among coaches, captains, and the media. Thanks to Zorancic's tireless work building his image, his support was likely the strongest among the candidates.
Seeing Casillas still torn, Suker waved it off:
"Forget it. Focus on the game. Match day's coming."
August 22nd—just five days away—marked the start of the Spanish Super Cup.
Unlike other countries' pre-season cups, the Spanish Super Cup was a two-legged home-and-away format.
It featured the league and Copa del Rey champions. If both titles were won by the same team, the league runner-up would step in.
Last season, Real Madrid had won both La Liga and the Copa del Rey, so Barcelona, the league runner-up, would be their opponent.
The first leg: August 22nd at Camp Nou.The second leg: August 27th at Santiago Bernabéu.
Whichever team scored more over the two legs would win the first trophy of the season.
For Barcelona, who ended last season trophyless—knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester United, and lost both league and domestic cup—this match was critical.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, avoided collapse by decisively firing Pellegrini when needed.
The Spanish Super Cup wasn't highly prestigious.
Like England's Community Shield, it was often seen as a glorified friendly—many substitutions allowed.
However, the Spanish Super Cup maintained a better structure, making it feel more like a proper competition.
Still, its value was more ceremonial than anything—a cherry on top.
With five days to go, Real Madrid stopped all intense physical training.
Mornings were reserved for tactical briefings, light drills, warmups, ball control, and jogging.
Afternoons featured team practices focused on match rhythm rather than intensity.
Mourinho emphasized high pressing.
Although the overall system was still counterattacking, unlike his more passive Inter setup, Real Madrid would press all over the pitch.
Thanks to fitness coach Pintus's grueling conditioning, the squad could handle that demand.
For stopping Messi, Mourinho planned to have Alonso and Khedira double-team him.
Both Mourinho and Ancelotti had previously used this strategy to good effect.
Unless Guardiola found a way to free Messi, Mourinho was determined to shut him down and strangle Barcelona with Suker and Kaká's counterattacks—squeezing the life out of them.
The Spanish Super Cup
Though not a major title, this clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid was so big that all of Europe's media converged on Camp Nou.
With Spain just crowned World Cup champions, the football fever was at an all-time high.
Add the European exploits of Barcelona and Real Madrid, and the star power of Suker, Messi, Kaká, Xavi, Iniesta, and Casillas—this match was overflowing with hype.
Real Madrid were not welcome in Barcelona.
On the road from the hotel to the stadium, Barça fans jeered them mercilessly.
Even though Casillas and others were national heroes, this was club football—boos and insults were still thrown.
Compared to last season, the atmosphere was even more intense.
Still riding the World Cup high, Barça fans were more fanatical than ever.
But they didn't hold back when cursing Real Madrid.
Madrid's players were used to it by now.
Silently, they rode the bus to Camp Nou—hostile territory, after all. Plus, after doing the double over Barça last season, the locals weren't about to be friendly.
Upon arrival, they were greeted by a sea of journalists.
Mourinho was immediately swarmed.
"What's your expectation for the match?"
"Can Real Madrid handle losing here?"
"Are you prepared to be defeated by Guardiola's Barcelona?"
These Catalan reporters were truly infuriating.
Mourinho resisted the urge to spit on them and walked toward the venue.
Just then, one reporter stopped him.
"Let go!" Mourinho snapped.
"Just one question, sir?"
Seeing it was a British press badge, Mourinho nodded. "One question."
"How would you evaluate Suker?"
"He's one of the best players I've ever seen. He has incredible talent and courage, and he's a player capable of creating miracles."
"Would you say he's a great striker?"
Mourinho frowned—this guy was pushing it.
"Yes."
Then the reporter pounced:
"But in an earlier interview, you said Suker had poor positioning, was versatile but lacked a specialty, and that Drogba was better."
He pulled out an old newspaper headline:"Mourinho: Suker Is a Forward Without Distinct Strengths"
Grinning, the reporter watched for a reaction.
Mourinho's lips twitched and his eyes narrowed.
"Ptooey!"
He stormed off.
Damn it!I almost spit on him!
After Mourinho left, the reporter swapped his fake British press badge for a real one—he was actually from a Catalan paper.
His colleagues cheered as he strutted off like a victorious rooster.
Mourinho entered the venue, followed by Suker and the rest of the Madrid players.
They ignored the media.
Once inside, Suker exhaled.
"Every time we come here, these journalists try to trap us. Best to say nothing."
Even the king of trash talk, Mourinho, had been outplayed.
Clearly, he still hadn't adjusted to the Spanish media's scheming and trap-setting.
"Suker!!!"
A voice called out.
Suker turned and noticed a glaringly shiny forehead—taking up a third of the face—paired with side-parted blondish hair.
It was Rakitić.
Wearing a staff badge, Rakitić approached Suker and Srna.
Srna greeted him with a smile.
Suker was surprised.
"Why are you here?"
"I asked my club for Super Cup tickets—wanted to feel the atmosphere," Rakitić said.
"Your club?" Suker frowned. "Schalke 04 gave you Super Cup tickets? You flew from Germany just for this match?"
"What Schalke?" Rakitić said, confused. "You don't know?"
Suker looked at Srna.
Srna shrugged:
"He joined Sevilla during the summer window. Luka and the others all know. You didn't?"
Suker was stunned.
He honestly didn't.
During the World Cup, he was fully immersed in the games and hadn't followed the news.
Even after returning to Spain, he'd been buried in work.
The local media mostly focused on major signings like Kaká or Srna.
Rakitić's move to Sevilla—probably only local papers cared.
"You really didn't know?" Rakitić asked, baffled.
"Next time we play you, I'll score one less goal," Suker said.
"So you admit you didn't know?"
"Just one less goal—no promises on anything else."
"So, did you know or not?"
"I didn't!" Suker glared. "What now, you gonna bite me?"
Rakitić backed down immediately.
"Fine, fine. No need to get so aggressive."
"You didn't join a big club. How was I supposed to know? You never even told me."
"I did tell you!"
Srna added: "More than once!"
Suker went quiet.
He probably hadn't taken it seriously—one ear in, one ear out.
"Get lost! Go watch the game and don't bother me!"
He dragged Srna toward the locker room.
Rakitić shook his head with a smile and went to find his seat.
Inside Real Madrid's locker room, Mourinho announced the starting lineup.
It was mostly the same as during the preseason, so the players were prepared.
From recent friendlies, it was clear the starters earned their spots.
Challengers would have to work even harder.
BOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Piercing jeers echoed through Camp Nou.
As soon as Real Madrid entered the pitch, a wave of boos swept across the stands.
But the players were unfazed.
Suker poked his ear.
"Feels like it's not as intimidating as before?"
Kaká nodded.
"I know why," Srna said cryptically.
The two looked at him.
Srna mimed blowing a horn.
Vuvuzelas!
Those brain-rattling noisemakers from the South Africa World Cup.
Compared to that trauma, regular boos were child's play.
Barcelona's half
Xavi and Iniesta stood side by side, watching their opponents intently.
"This season's Real Madrid won't be easy to beat."
Last season, even with chaos and no solid system, Suker carried Madrid to a double over Barça.
Now with Mourinho at the helm and key signings like Kaká and Srna, no one knew what Real could do.
But one thing was certain—they'd be tough.
"David, show them what you've got!" Iniesta said, giving Villa a thumbs up.
Villa had shined in the World Cup, and now at Barça, he was expected to add bite to their attack.
Xavi looked at Messi.
"Leo, no pressure. Just play your game. We believe in you."
Messi pursed his lips and nodded slightly.
Xavi and Iniesta sighed silently.
Ever since Suker's rise, comparisons between him and Messi had been constant.
Now, Messi seemed to be overshadowed.
He looked lost whenever he faced Madrid.
They still believed in Messi's talent.
But Suker was like a monster.
Just like in the previous era—plenty of geniuses and masters, but only one alien.
And this era's "alien" was even more terrifying.