In the span of a few minutes, both sides were locked in a fierce battle, leaving the fans in a state of disbelief.
This was supposed to be a team of superstars against a mere West Ham United, could it really be this close?!
However, it wasn't long before the geniuses on the field found their rhythm. Bruno Fernandes linked up with Messi, who had dropped back, and their simple passes bypassed West Ham's most crucial defensive positions.
On the sidelines, West Ham United's head coach frowned deeply. He watched the unfolding situation on the field, a chill creeping into his heart.
This was supposed to be the tactical heart of the team, the most important zone. He had deployed five or six players to defend it rigorously, yet Messi had waltzed through with ease.
Following closely behind, Neymar and Suarez sensed an impending goal. McTominay, seizing the opportunity, surged forward, and in an instant, the attacking formation was clear!
Messi didn't opt for an immediate pass. He continued dribbling forward alone. The West Ham players appeared utterly lost in front of him; none could stop him.
The fans were enthralled, feeling as though they had traveled back a decade, watching a match at the Bernabéu.
Messi was still that formidable. Though older now, his dribbling remained world-class.
Neymar, another player with exceptional dribbling skills, moved towards the center. As his marker's gaze flickered towards Messi, he changed direction and darted towards the wing.
Neymar, a player brimming with feints and cunning, was full of tricks. By the time the defender looked back, he was left speechless and filled with regret.
Finally, Messi chose to distribute the ball at the edge of the box. He saw Neymar's run and decisively passed to the wing, their understanding as potent as ever.
Cao Baiming's eyes lit up. For the first time, he felt a genuine sense of emotion.
He looked at the surrounding fans, who seemed lost in a dream, believing they had returned to Barcelona's home ground a decade ago. Perhaps this was what Guardiola envisioned.
However, Messi was indeed aging. In his prime, two feints would have seen him bypass two or three players without such fuss.
Yet, Cao Baiming remained unperturbed, knowing that Messi's return to peak form was a matter of time, and not far off.
The three players who had been marking Messi now desperately sent one of their own to help defend Neymar.
Neymar's lips curved into a slight smile, and the fans knew he was ecstatic. He wished ten players would mark him, to showcase his immense talent even further!
The ball was at his feet, yet the two defenders before him dared not step forward to challenge for it. They knew that the moment they moved, Neymar could instantly dribble past them.
Thus, the three were locked in a standstill for a full three seconds...
Watching this scene, Cao Baiming couldn't help but laugh.
Indeed, Neymar's matches were the most entertaining. This was a situation that likely only occurred with him.
If it were Cao Baiming, he wouldn't have the patience to remain static; he would have used two feints to bypass the two players, who would typically collide like two lumps of putty – a common occurrence.
Soon, Neymar extended his left hand, raising it slightly, his signature gesture, signaling his imminent choice of direction.
Both defenders tried to anticipate, and in that moment, a tacit understanding formed between them!
One defended the left, the other the right. Why not?
The next second, Neymar pushed the ball forward, flicking it with his heel. The ball soared into the air, and simultaneously, Neymar went through the gap between them!
A Rainbow Flick!
This was truly Neymar's signature move! The fans erupted in cheers, their thunderous applause threatening to uproot the entire stadium!!
This match was more than just nostalgia! It was the cheapest ticket in history, worth a hundred times its price!
On the field, at least half the fans shed tears of joy at Neymar's rainbow flick. They hadn't even realized that in the next second, Neymar successfully retrieved his own ball!
He did it!! The two West Ham defenders stood stunned, taking nearly a second to react!
They raged in impotent fury, sprinting forward, desperate to catch up to Neymar, who had already broken through!
But forget catching up, they couldn't even grab his shirt; they were left far behind!
Running, Neymar himself was exhilarated, unsure when he had last felt this happy. In his own eyes, this was the most perfect and successful rainbow flick of his life.
Messi and Suarez ran towards the center to offer support, while McTominay moved to the flank, creating space for the legends.
Finally, Messi received Neymar's cross, drew the goalkeeper out of position, and then calmly slotted the ball into the net!
"Ten minutes! A perfect collaboration! This is the perfect teamwork of Messi, Neymar, and Suarez! Dream Team Three is back!"
The commentator wept with joy, his voice betraying the same emotion felt by the thousands of fans on the field.
"Flowing like water, it embodies the charm of tiki-taka football. This is Guardiola's success, a gift to each and every one of us!"
"Ten years, still so strong! Just defying logic!!"
The three embraced each other in excitement, their smiles so pure, a sight the fans hadn't seen in a long time. It was all so worth it!
"Suarez's teamwork is excellent! Just like always, his positioning is crucial!"
"Whether he touches the ball or not is irrelevant; my Suya doesn't need stats. A master is a master! No further explanation needed!"
"These West Ham fellows seem to have no power to fight back!"
"Just watch! Midfield maestro Luis Figo hasn't even shown his magic yet! He was a standout player in the World Cup!"
The fans were too excited to sit any longer. The hundreds of thousands of seats in the stadium seemed to be rendered obsolete as everyone stood up and cheered!
As the celebrations concluded and the players returned to the field, the luxurious bench of substitutes, including Ronaldo, Kaka, and Kante, applauded.
Guardiola's expression remained stern, as if to say, it's only been ten minutes, everything is just beginning, no need to rush!