Chapter 632: The Rise of a New Champion
Quaresma brought the ball down beautifully and dashed along the flank.
Everyone knew the danger that Quaresma posed, so French left-back Lucas Hernández closed him down immediately, positioning himself on the inside to prevent a cut into the box.
However, Quaresma had no intention of cutting inside. Instead, he pushed the ball further to the outside to pick up speed.
With a quick acceleration, he whipped in a curling cross, the ball spinning away from the goal.
In the box, Ronaldo was, as usual, tightly marked by the French center-backs, Varane and Umtiti. They sandwiched him, not leaving an inch of space.
"Don't let him get anything!" shouted Lloris from his goal line, too cautious to come off his line to punch the cross.
The ball curled away from the crowd, bypassing all three towering figures—Ronaldo at 1.87 meters, Varane at 1.91 meters, and Umtiti at 1.82 meters. The ball sailed over their heads, landing perfectly at the feet of Guedes at the far post.
Guedes controlled the ball with his thigh, his body positioning for a shot. He had already raised his leg, ready to strike, but out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a red figure charging toward the penalty spot.
It was Bruno!
Guedes changed his mind mid-swing. Instead of shooting, he swept the ball across the box, sending it back toward the central area.
...
Bruno had been sprinting from midfield the moment Quaresma launched the cross. He didn't slow down, not even when entering the penalty area.
As the ball rolled toward him, he adjusted his stride ever so slightly, his body leaning forward, preparing for the perfect strike.
With his right leg swinging naturally, he met the ball in stride. The motion was fluid, and the power behind the shot was ferocious.
The ball rocketed off Bruno's boot, slicing through the air like a missile. From such close range, French goalkeeper Lloris had no time to react. He dove with all his might, but the ball sped past his outstretched fingers, rattling the back of the net between the post and his fingertips.
The crowd erupted.
"GOOOAL!"
"Bruno! Bruno Fernandes with a stunning strike! Portugal takes the lead again!"
"A brilliant team play in the box, capped off with Bruno's lethal finish!"
"GOLOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
The stadium commentators from around the world burst into excited cries.
...
French fans behind the goal instinctively raised their hands—not to cheer, but to clutch their heads in despair.
Umtiti and Varane, still on the ground from their aerial duel with Ronaldo, stared at the ball in the net in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Portuguese fans on the opposite side of the stadium erupted, leaping from their seats with triumphant cheers:
"Viva! Viva Portugal!"
The stadium announcer's voice echoed through the roar of the crowd:
"Goal! Goal! In the 88th minute, Portugal takes the lead! 3–2!"
"Scored by Portugal's number 8—Bruno Fernandes!"
...
French players stood stunned on the pitch, their eyes unfocused, struggling to comprehend what had just happened.
N'Golo Kanté, who had failed to track Bruno's run, collapsed to his knees, tears welling in his eyes. He couldn't forgive himself for such a critical mistake at the most crucial moment.
...
Bruno, seeing the ball hit the back of the net, knew what it meant—he had once again delivered the decisive blow against France.
He spread his arms wide and sprinted toward the corner flag, shouting with all his might into the nearest camera:
"CHAMPIONS! We're the champions!"
His raw emotions were on full display, a side of him rarely seen.
Turning back, he was immediately embraced by Ronaldo, followed by a swarm of teammates who surrounded him, jumping and shouting in a chaotic celebration.
From the opposite end of the stadium, the Portuguese fans roared in jubilation. The French fans, meanwhile, sat in stunned silence, their dreams of victory slipping away.
With their defense shattered, France struggled to regroup. Their formation split into two disjointed halves, leaving them incapable of mounting any serious threat against Portugal's resolute defense.
...
As the fourth official raised the board signaling three minutes of stoppage time, Portuguese fans erupted into another wave of cheers. French supporters, however, booed loudly, feeling the additional time was insufficient to stage a comeback.
Police stationed around the stadium watched the French crowd warily, particularly focusing on known ultras. Precautions were being taken to prevent potential unrest after the final whistle.
Meanwhile, Portuguese fans broke into song, their voices filling the Moscow night:
"Campione, Campione, ole, ole, ole!"
The refrain echoed around the Luzhniki Stadium, a fitting tribute to their team on the brink of history.
...
As the final seconds ticked away, French striker Giroud scuffed a desperate shot wide. Mbappé scrambled to retrieve the ball, attempting to hurry the game along, but before he could hand it to Portugal's goalkeeper, Patricio, the referee's whistle blew three times.
The sound was drowned out by an even louder noise—a deafening roar from the Portuguese fans:
"We're the champions! Portugal! Portugal!"
...
"The match is over!" shouted the Portuguese TV commentator, his voice cracking with emotion. "Portugal has won the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia! They've defeated France 3–2 in the final. What a spectacular match! Bruno's late goal has secured the trophy for Portugal. Congratulations to Portugal! Congratulations to Bruno! Congratulations to Cristiano! Congratulations to every single Portuguese player. You are all heroes of the nation!"
"Portugal is the champion of the world! The Luzhniki Stadium belongs to them tonight!"
...
As the final whistle blew, Portuguese players embraced, their emotions pouring out.
Ronaldo, overcome with joy, ripped off his shirt, revealing his chiseled physique as he ran toward the Portuguese fans, waving his jersey triumphantly.
For Ronaldo, this victory held unparalleled significance. It cemented his status as one of the greatest players in history, granting him the elusive World Cup title to complete his legacy.
Across the stadium, Portuguese fans began chanting in unison:
"King Ronaldo! King Ronaldo!"
Bruno watched the celebrations with a smile, knowing he had played a decisive role in bringing glory to his nation.
(END CHAPTER)
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