Chapter 785: Truce! Wang Shuo Won! Wang Shuo, Come Claim Your Golden Ball Award! Who Isn't a Master of Sarcasm?

After presenting the Golden Ball Award, FIFA President Blatter took the stage to officially announce an important decision.

After careful consideration and long-term observation by FIFA, it had been decided to appoint Wang Shuo as the FIFA Global Ambassador for Youth Football and Anti-Discrimination.

“…Wang Shuo is a young player with a very distinct personality who firmly stands by his principles. We believe he will be able to, on a global scale…”

When Blatter said this, the expressions on the faces of many guests at the Zurich Opera House instantly became quite intriguing.

The inside story of the reconciliation between Wang Shuo and FIFA was indeed a secret to ordinary fans. However, to industry insiders, it was no secret at all. For Blatter to comment on Wang Shuo like this now made it clear that, having resolved the Golden Ball Award dilemma, he wanted to take a passive-aggressive dig at him.

What did he mean by “a distinct personality” and “firmly stands by his principles”? Wasn’t he just calling Wang Shuo an absolute, stubborn troublemaker?

Obviously, Blatter had taken a massive tumble and suffered a huge loss in this incident, so he was using this opportunity to exact a petty revenge.

Valcke and Nichols both looked entirely speechless. This FIFA President was notoriously vindictive! They just hadn’t expected him to take a veiled swipe at Wang Shuo in such a public setting.

Of course, if the media misinterpreted it, they could still pass it off as over-analysis. But it didn’t matter anymore. The Golden Ball Award crisis was resolved anyway. Wang Shuo would just have to swallow this grievance!

Only Messi and Ronaldo, sitting in the very front row, spontaneously exchanged a glance and laughed upon hearing Blatter’s words.

“This old guy really doesn’t understand Wang Shuo at all!”

“Isn’t that the truth? That guy never holds a grudge.”

Hearing the exchange between the two superstars, Antonella and Irina, who were sitting between them, were utterly bewildered. What were they talking about?

But they would find out at the banquet following the Golden Ball Award ceremony.

“During my recovery from injury, it’s rare to have time to go for a stroll. London after the snow has a unique charm!”

A single tweet from Wang Shuo quickly sparked heated discussions across the entire internet. He even casually tested Twitter’s image-posting feature, attaching a photo of him and Shen Qinghe shopping on Piccadilly in Central London.

In the photo, Shen Qinghe wore a black double-breasted coat and a light brown fluffy hat, as soft and voluminous as a cloud. With specks of snow clinging to the brim of her hat and her shoulders, she looked as elegant as a princess stepping straight out of a winter fairy tale.

Standing beside her, Wang Shuo smiled brightly at the camera. How did he look even slightly injured?

In less than half an hour, the tweet skyrocketed to the top of the trending charts, capturing the attention and sparking debate among netizens worldwide.

“What’s going on? Aren’t you severely injured and unable to attend the Golden Ball Award ceremony in Zurich?”

The top comment under Wang Shuo’s tweet came from an astounded fan.

Wang Shuo’s reply was simply a smiley face emoji: “Take a guess!”

Public opinion instantly exploded. Damn it, so he wasn’t injured at all!

What kind of place was Piccadilly? It was a world-renowned shopping paradise in London. It was packed with tourists all year round, let alone now in early January.

Wang Shuo’s public appearance immediately drew the attention of countless tourists and fans, with many rushing over to ask for autographs and photos. This time, Wang Shuo accommodated every single request.

It wasn’t until over ten minutes later, when media reporters rushing over from Fleet Street finally tracked him down on Piccadilly, that Wang Shuo ended his interactions with the fans. Accompanied by Shen Qinghe and two bodyguards, he left the scene.

Moreover, he walked at a brisk pace, allowing the reporters on-site to capture everything crystal clear on camera.

Just look at his walking speed—and you’re telling me he was injured? And that bright smile—are you sure he was recuperating?

The answer was self-evident. Wang Shuo had made this public appearance on purpose.

The underlying message was obvious: he wasn’t injured in the slightest. If he wasn’t injured, why didn’t he go to Zurich to accept his award in person, instead of doing it via video link?

Did the answer even need to be spelled out?

The public outcry boiled over! Who could have imagined that a single Golden Ball Award would be filled with so many twists and turns!

Wang Shuo’s tweet and his subsequent public appearance on the busiest streets of London had instantly set the internet ablaze.

Far away in Zurich, Blatter received the news immediately. By the next day, the story was plastered across almost all the major newspapers.

Wang Shuo had skipped the Golden Ball Award ceremony in Zurich, only to show up on the streets of London, shopping with his “girlfriend.”

What was the meaning of this?

Blatter was so furious he nearly coughed up blood on the spot.

“Is he insane?” The FIFA President slammed his desk, roaring hysterically. “Jerome, get the lawyers ready and see if we can sue him!”

“Sue him?” Valcke was startled. “At a time like this? That might not be a good idea.”

Especially considering that, according to their contract, they were due to announce the China football development plan in just a few days. Sue Wang Shuo now?

“Then study the clauses first and preserve the evidence. We’ll make him suffer later!” At this point, Blatter turned ruthless. “Damn it, I really want to strangle him right now!”

With the Golden Ball Award crisis behind them, Blatter had regained his imposing arrogance as the FIFA President. In fact, he didn’t even take Wang Shuo seriously anymore.

“I’m afraid it won’t be easy to sue him,” Nichols shook his head, looking troubled.

“What do you mean?” Blatter trembled with anger.

“I’ve communicated with Wang Shuo’s team. They said he didn’t violate the confidentiality clause in the agreement.”