Among so many big-name stars, Max actually appeared!
How could he deserve this? He was just a newcomer from who-knows-where. After playing just two matches, he was already rubbing shoulders with these legends.
Cao Baiming felt a surge of indignation.
Yet, he had to admit that Max's fame had indeed skyrocketed. In just two games, he had become a sensational star, the most talked-about player among fans in the past month.
He wondered what kind of legendary agent or super PR team Max had hired to manipulate public opinion so effectively. This variety show was arguably the biggest sports program globally. They likely scouted Max precisely because of his recent meteoric rise to fame.
Scrolling further down, Cao Baiming discovered the article's main point.
During a performance event, Max scored so many goals that Cristiano Ronaldo, his opponent, apparently lost his temper on the spot.
Cao Baiming couldn't help but chuckle. It was no wonder then that the show had become so popular.
Even though he hadn't been interested initially, like many others who wouldn't have clicked to watch the original video, Cao Baiming found himself opening the player after reading this part.
The show's format was as follows: the star players would take turns participating in a challenge. The challenge involved kicking a slightly larger-than-normal foam ball towards a moving conveyor belt. As the conveyor belt moved laterally, the difficulty would continuously increase. There were a total of one hundred scoring cards. Successfully hitting and knocking down a card would earn one point.
Although the maximum score was one hundred, even Ronaldo and Balotelli hadn't surpassed 70 points. The highest score achieved so far was 78, set by Neymar.
The order of participants was determined by random draw. The last three players were Grealish, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Max.
Most dramatically, Max was scheduled to go last. Cao Baiming couldn't help but marvel at this. Logically, the final slot should be reserved for stronger contenders, like Neymar, who was truly skilled at such games.
When it was Grealish's turn, Cristiano Ronaldo paid him little attention, instead meticulously planning his shooting technique. He was extremely confident in his abilities and aimed to break Neymar's record.
Grealish performed exceptionally well, seemingly learning from the experiences of those before him. He successfully navigated increasingly difficult stages, with his score steadily climbing. In the end, Grealish tied Neymar's record with a score of 78!
Cristiano Ronaldo applauded, his expression relaxed and confident. It was his turn next.
As expected, Cristiano Ronaldo showed a hint of nervousness at the start. However, he soon demonstrated his prowess to everyone. The nickname "The Greatest Duo" was not without reason.
Although most of these players were not from his era, even compared to them, Cristiano Ronaldo was undoubtedly exceptional.
Through diligent and rigorous training, Cristiano Ronaldo was a true star who had realized his potential. His footwork was not only precise but also imbued with power.
In the first thirty scoring challenges, Cristiano Ronaldo hit all targets effortlessly, scoring points.
However, these thirty stages were not particularly difficult for professional players; most of the earlier participants hadn't missed many opportunities here.
The difficulty truly began to escalate later. On the forty-fifth stage, Cristiano Ronaldo accidentally shot wide, failing to hit the target area.
On the fifty-first stage, he hit the target but failed to knock it down, losing another opportunity.
Despite these misses, Cristiano Ronaldo's performance left everyone else around him in awe. He had the highest score in the first fifty shots thus far!
As the challenge progressed, the lateral speed of the conveyor belt gradually increased.
Cristiano Ronaldo's focus was on another level, not just one level, but significantly higher than everyone else!
Neymar and Ronaldo, in particular, seemed to be playing casually, not taking it seriously. They even managed to exchange jokes with their friends behind them while playing.
In comparison, their lack of seriousness was stark. Cristiano Ronaldo's focused demeanor was such that he likely wouldn't have heard someone shouting his name from behind.
Subsequently, Cristiano Ronaldo maintained his high-level performance. With more than ten targets yet to move into position, he had already matched the current highest score of 78 held by Neymar and Grealish!
The remaining targets were indeed exceedingly difficult. For instance, the very last one was as small as a playing card, spinning on a large windmill, while the conveyor belt moved at almost two meters per second. Under such conditions, hitting it was almost unrealistic.
In the last dozen opportunities, Cristiano Ronaldo only managed to score eight more points, ultimately achieving a score of 86, far surpassing Neymar and Grealish!
Everyone displayed expressions of deep admiration.
"Amazing, CR7! You're the best!"
"Truly incredible, to hit targets like that! Strong, strong, strong!"
...
Cristiano Ronaldo appeared calm, but inwardly, he was beaming. He was extremely satisfied with his score, and his gait became even more confident than before.
He approached Max and gently patted him on the shoulder.
"Alright, brother, it's your turn."
Knowing Max's personality, he didn't engage much with others. Even though this person was Cristiano Ronaldo, Max walked forward without looking back, not even glancing at him.
Seeing this, Cao Baiming couldn't help but burst into laughter.
These two really needed to have a head-to-head showdown, he thought. This time, Cristiano Ronaldo had met his match; one was bold, and the other was even bolder!
Cristiano Ronaldo's expression showed a hint of defiance. How dare this guy ignore him?
Soon, Max was ready. Cao Baiming's eyes lit up; this was the person he was most eager to watch.
Max began the challenge. Others weren't particularly optimistic, as everyone assumed Cristiano Ronaldo's 86 points would be the final highest score of the night. However, as time went on, everyone began to sense that something was amiss. Up to the seventieth ball, Max hadn't made a single mistake! Seventy shots, seventy hits!
Seventy-one! Seventy-two! Seventy-three...