September 27, 2020 - La Liga Matchday 1Barcelona vs Villarreal
The first match of Barcelona's post-Messi era.
Camp Nou was only half-full due to COVID restrictions. Twenty thousand fans—those who were allowed in—wondered: Could Barcelona survive without Messi?
Ethan wore the number 10. Captain's armband on his sleeve. The weight of history on his shoulders.
In the nineteenth minute, he answered all questions.
Receiving the ball thirty meters from goal, he drove forward, beat two defenders with a combination of pace and skill, and struck from the edge of the box.
Top corner. Unstoppable.
1-0.
In the thirty-fourth minute, he assisted Griezmann with a perfect through ball.
In the sixty-seventh minute, he scored again—this time from a free kick, curling it over the wall into the far corner.
Final score: 4-0.
Ethan: two goals, one assist. Man of the Match.
After the final whistle, he stood at the center circle, arms raised, accepting the applause.
This was his team now. His responsibility. His legacy to build.
October 2020 - Breaking Records
The goals kept coming.
Matchday 2: Barcelona 5-2 Celta Vigo. Ethan: hat-trick. Matchday 3: Barcelona 4-0 Sevilla. Ethan: 2 goals, 2 assists. Matchday 4: Barcelona 3-1 Getafe. Ethan: 2 goals.
By October, Ethan had 10 goals in 5 La Liga matches. He was on pace to break Messi's single-season La Liga record of 50 goals.
The comparisons were inevitable: "Can Loki replace Messi?" "Is he already better than Messi was at 21?" "The new king of Barcelona?"
December 2020 - Calendar Year Milestone
As the year ended, Ethan's 2020 statistics were compiled:
All Competitions (Jan-Dec 2020):
62 matches 58 goals 26 assists
Fifty-eight goals in a calendar year. The third-highest total ever recorded, behind only Messi (91 in 2012) and Cristiano Ronaldo (69 in 2013).
At twenty-one years old, Ethan Loki was establishing himself as one of the world's best players.
March 2021 - First Barcelona Trophy
Copa del Rey Final. Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao.
Seville's La Cartuja stadium. Twenty thousand fans allowed.
Barcelona dominated from the first whistle. Ethan scored in the twenty-first minute—a brilliant run and finish. Griezmann added a second. De Jong made it 3-0.
Final score: 4-0.
Barcelona's first trophy of the post-Messi era.
Ethan lifted the Copa del Rey as captain. His first trophy as Barcelona's leader.
In the celebration, Griezmann hugged him. "This is just the beginning. La Liga next. Then Champions League."
"Together," Ethan replied.
Reflection
As the 2020-21 season continued, Ethan reflected on his journey:
From Bondy at age seven to Barcelona's captain at twenty-one. From street football to two Champions Leagues. From unknown to €160 million. From Prince of Monaco to King of Barcelona.
The path had been long. The work had been hard. But every sacrifice, every training session, every goal had been worth it.
He thought about Mbappé in Paris. His brother. His rival. They'd promised to chase the Ballon d'Or together.
Soon, that race would intensify.
But for now, Ethan focused on Barcelona. On La Liga. On bringing Champions League glory back to Camp Nou.
Three moves ahead. Always three moves ahead.
The future was bright.
End of Chapter 30