Max’s expression gradually revealed arrogance and self-importance. The meaning in his eyes was clear: he didn’t take anyone seriously at all!
Recalling Max’s arrogant demeanor when he went up to challenge earlier, how he had dismissed Ronaldo’s greeting, a quiet anger began to simmer in Ronaldo’s heart, a heat gathering in his chest.
But this guy was truly outrageous!
Everyone watched his footwork intently, leaning forward, observing closely. These footballs, made of sponge, were being kicked one after another, hitting the numbered targets. One by one, the numbered targets were successfully knocked down.
They couldn’t believe that what they were witnessing was real.
“Doesn’t he need to make even a single mistake?”
“Is this guy cheating? If he’s not, I won’t believe it!”
“As expected of a rising star currently in the spotlight, he truly has some skill!”
The football giants in the audience began to whisper amongst themselves. Most of them knew each other, many being national teammates or having played together in the same club. Even if they hadn’t, they were all familiar with each other as top football superstars.
However, this Max was the most unfamiliar person to all of them.
“His movements are a bit stiff.”
A voice cut through the air. Everyone’s attention immediately shifted. The exclamations of amazement at Max’s miraculous performance were suddenly interrupted by a critical comment, naturally drawing a lot of attention.
The one who spoke was Neymar.
As people looked at him, Neymar smiled and glanced at Dalo next to him.
“What do you think, don’t you agree?”
Dalo shook his head and then looked in Max’s direction.
“I think if I had another chance, and took it seriously, I could do it too. It’s not difficult at all.”
The crowd showed expressions of disbelief. They could tell there was a hint of showing off in his words, but considering who was speaking, they didn’t have much to say.
Coming from Neymar, such words were considered mild. After all, he had once said that if he ate well and had energy, he could kick a football to the moon, and even he believed it.
At this moment, as the people chatted, the hosts of the show quickly joined the conversation. However, one person remained silent, not uttering a single word.
That person was Ronaldo. He watched Max’s figure intently. Although his expression was still very calm, his mood at this moment was far from it.
The word “calm” could basically be considered the opposite of Ronaldo’s current mood.
Cao Baiming saw the camera sweep across Ronaldo’s face and instantly understood. He knew Ronaldo’s personality like the back of his hand. Others might just see this event as a game, but Ronaldo was different.
He would absolutely not accept defeat. Looking at how people had been showering him with praise and discussing his skills just half a minute ago, and now that Max had appeared, his score seemed to have been almost forgotten!
This world left no room for a runner-up! There were only two spots: first place and the loser!
Ronaldo watched Max’s final performance nervously. Yet, even as the difficulty gradually increased towards the end, Max still made mistakes, but these mistakes were insignificant compared to those of others!
Ninety-two points!!! Max finished the event, a fleeting arrogant expression flashing across his face before quickly returning to calm.
If anyone with a bad temper had seen that expression, Max would have broken several bones.
Ronaldo had endured enough. He would not allow himself to lose his temper in such a setting. The only way to punish someone like this was to let his strength do the talking.
As one of the dual legends, the record holder for Champions League goals, and the king of football with the largest fan base in history, could he really be inferior to a mere brat who had just debuted?
Ronaldo thought to himself. As Max was about to return, Ronaldo stopped him and then said to the host beside him.
“Let me have another go!”
Everyone around was stunned, Neymar the most.
“He snatched the words right out of my mouth! Wait… is he serious?”
Ronaldo was clearly serious. His expression was very earnest and solemn, his eyes burning with intensity. Even if the host wanted to refuse, it seemed impossible to say no now.
“Alright… okay, since there’s still time, this time is yours for free challenges. It won’t affect the first score, alright!”
“No problem.”
Ronaldo couldn’t care less about the prize for winning this event. He only cared about whether he could beat Max in this challenge.
As for what others thought, he didn’t care. As long as he felt satisfied and Max’s arrogance was taught a lesson, everything would be fine!
Saying this, Ronaldo walked up directly.
This time, with the experience of his first attempt, Ronaldo gained more confidence. If it was just ninety-two points, it was only a matter of six or seven more goals, not difficult at all!
Cao Baiming watched this melodramatic turn of events and almost burst out laughing. Max was probably the only one who could anger Ronaldo to such an extent, not because of how great he was, but simply because of his attitude and intentions.
The others were waiting below. Since the hosts had said they could play freely, Neymar wouldn’t just stand by. He was also ready to take his second chance.
However, things did not go as smoothly as expected.
Up to the first fifty kicks, Ronaldo maintained a very good state. But after making a mistake on the fifty-fourth kick, he started making consecutive errors!
By the time he reached the seventieth kick, he had already wasted seven chances!
To achieve a score of ninety-two points, there were only eight allowed mistakes, which was the upper limit. If it exceeded this number, it would be a complete embarrassment.
And Max, when he reached seventy kicks, had not missed a single one, hitting all targets!
Thinking of this, Ronaldo began to feel powerless, even a deep sense of helplessness, feeling from the bottom of his heart that things were not going in the direction he wished.
Soon, this feeling of losing control turned into anger.