The Ballon d'Or ceremony was scheduled for November 29, 2021 in Paris.
But the race had already begun in earnest during the summer, as football's elite gathered for international tournaments and pre-season preparations.
Ethan Loki was among the favorites. His 2020-21 season had been exceptional: 47 goals, two trophies with Barcelona, leadership of the post-Messi era. But he faced stiff competition.
The Favorites:
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) - 48 goals, Bundesliga champion, but Bayern crashed out early in Champions League Kylian Mbappé (PSG) - 42 goals, Ligue 1 champion, but PSG again failed in Champions League Ethan Loki (Barcelona) - 47 goals, La Liga + Copa del Rey double Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) - 41 goals, but no trophies Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) - Veteran brilliance, but Madrid finished trophyless
The summer would be crucial. Euro 2020 (delayed to 2021) and Copa America would heavily influence voting.
June 11, 2021 - Euro 2020 Begins
France entered as favorites. World champions. Stacked squad. The "Group of Death" against Germany, Portugal, and Hungary seemed manageable.
Ethan started all three group matches:
France 1-0 Germany: Ethan assisted Mbappé's winning goal. Clinical performance.
France 1-1 Hungary: Frustrating draw. Ethan hit the post twice. Hungary defended heroically.
France 2-2 Portugal: Thriller. Ethan scored a brilliant solo goal in the sixty-third minute—beating three Portuguese defenders before finishing. But Portugal equalized late through Ronaldo.
France topped the group. Ethan had one goal, two assists. Solid, not spectacular.
June 28 - Round of 16France vs Switzerland - Bucharest
A match that would haunt French football forever.
France dominated the first half. Benzema scored twice. Ethan added a third with a stunning free-kick. 3-1 at halftime.
Switzerland seemed dead and buried.
Then chaos.
Switzerland pulled one back in the seventy-fifth minute. 3-2.
Another in the eighty-first. 3-3.
Extra time. Both teams exhausted. Neither could score.
Penalties.
France's first four penalties: Pogba (scored), Griezmann (scored), Ethan (scored), Benzema (scored).
But Mbappé, taking the fifth, missed. Switzerland converted all five.
France eliminated. World champions out in the Round of 16.
Devastation.
In the changing room afterward, Ethan sat with his head in his hands. The dream of Euro glory—gone. His Ballon d'Or chances—damaged.
Mbappé was inconsolable. "I cost us. I missed."
"No," Ethan said firmly. "We lost as a team. You've scored crucial goals for us countless times. This isn't on you."
But deep down, Ethan knew: Euro 2020 had been a disaster for France. And it would impact Ballon d'Or voting.
July 2021 - Summer Training
While Italy celebrated winning Euro 2020 and Argentina won Copa America, Ethan returned to Barcelona for pre-season.
He trained harder than ever. Extra sessions. Gym work. Tactical study. He was determined to make 2021-22 the season where he stamped his authority on world football.
Koeman met with him privately.
"The Ballon d'Or voting happens in October. You need to start the season on fire. Break records. Dominate headlines. Make voters remember you're the best."
"I will, Coach. I promise."
"And one more thing—" Koeman pulled up video footage of Liverpool's 2019 Champions League run. "We need to win the Champions League this season. It's been six years since Barcelona lifted that trophy. Without it, you'll never be considered the absolute best. Messi won it four times. Ronaldo five. You have two from Monaco. You need one with Barcelona."
Ethan nodded. The message was clear: La Liga wasn't enough. Copa del Rey wasn't enough. He needed European glory.
August 15, 2021 - La Liga Season BeginsBarcelona vs Real Sociedad - Camp Nou
Fifty thousand fans packed Camp Nou—full capacity restored after COVID restrictions lifted.
The atmosphere was electric. Barcelona unveiling their defending La Liga trophy before kickoff. The players parading it around the pitch. The fans chanting.
Ethan, wearing the captain's armband and number 10, led the team out to thunderous applause.
Real Sociedad were quality opponents—finished sixth last season, playing attractive football under Imanol Alguacil.
But Barcelona were on a mission.
Ethan scored in the fourteenth minute—a brilliant team goal involving twenty-three passes before he tapped home from close range.
He scored again in the thirty-ninth—this time from distance, a curling shot that beat the goalkeeper at his near post.
2-0 at halftime.
In the sixty-seventh minute, he completed his hat-trick. A counter-attack. Pedri to Dembélé. Dembélé to Ethan. One touch to control. One touch to finish.
3-0.
His third hat-trick of 2021. Twenty-second of his career.
In the eighty-fourth minute, Koeman substituted him to a standing ovation. Fifty thousand people on their feet, chanting his name.
He'd sent a message: the 2021-22 season would be his.
August-September - Unstoppable Form
The goals kept coming.
Matchday 2: Barcelona 4-1 Athletic Bilbao. Ethan: 2 goals, 1 assist Matchday 3: Barcelona 2-1 Getafe. Ethan: 1 goal Matchday 4: Barcelona 3-0 Sevilla. Ethan: hat-trick Matchday 5: Barcelona 3-2 Atletico Madrid. Ethan: 2 goals
By early September, Ethan had 11 goals in 5 La Liga matches. He was on pace to shatter records.
The media coverage intensified:
"Loki for Ballon d'Or!""Can anyone stop Barcelona's captain?""The Messi heir has arrived."
But Ethan stayed grounded. He remembered his father's words: "Talent opens doors, character keeps them open."
He worked harder. Stayed humble. Focused on the team.
September 14 - Champions League Group Stage BeginsBarcelona vs Bayern Munich - Camp Nou
The draw had been cruel. Bayern Munich in the group stage—the team that humiliated Barcelona 8-2 in 2020.
Revenge match. Redemption match.
Camp Nou was bouncing. The fans remembered the humiliation. They wanted blood.
Bayern, under Julian Nagelsmann, came to attack. They pressed high. Dominated possession. Made Barcelona uncomfortable.
In the twenty-third minute, they took the lead. Lewandowski, inevitably. 1-0.
But Barcelona responded.
In the thirty-fourth minute, Ethan equalized. A brilliant solo run—receiving the ball at halfway, beating three Bayern defenders with a combination of pace and skill, finishing past Neuer.
1-1.
In the fifty-sixth minute, he put Barcelona ahead. A perfectly timed run onto Pedri's through ball. One-on-one with Neuer. Clinical finish.
2-1.
Bayern pushed desperately for an equalizer. Created chances. Hit the post. Forced incredible saves from Ter Stegen.
But Barcelona held firm.
Final score: Barcelona 2-1 Bayern Munich.
Revenge secured. Ethan with both goals.
After the match, Lewandowski approached him. "You played brilliantly. Good luck with the Ballon d'Or. You deserve to be in the conversation."
"So do you, Robert. May the best player win."
October 2021 - Ballon d'Or Voting Closes
The deadline for Ballon d'Or voting passed on October 24.
Ethan's case was strong:
2021 Calendar Year:
64 matches 61 goals 28 assists La Liga Champion Copa del Rey Winner Champions League: ongoing (strong start) Euro 2020: Round of 16 (disappointing but not disastrous)
Competition:
Lewandowski:
58 goals Bundesliga Champion Euro 2020: Round of 16 No Champions League success
Mbappé:
51 goals Ligue 1 Champion Euro 2020: Round of 16 (missed crucial penalty) No Champions League
Benzema:
46 goals No trophies Euro 2020: Round of 16 Strong narrative (veteran comeback)
Jorginho:
7 goals But: Champions League winner, Euro 2020 winner Defensive midfielder—narrative power
The race was wide open.
November 29, 2021 - Ballon d'Or Ceremony - Paris
The Théâtre du Châtelet was packed with football's elite. Messi. Ronaldo. Mbappé. Lewandowski. Benzema. Legends and current stars all gathered.
Ethan sat between Griezmann and Pedri, trying to appear calm. Inside, his stomach churned.
The ceremony began. Awards for best young player (Pedri won). Best goalkeeper (Donnarumma). Best striker (Lewandowski).
Then the main event.
"And now, the 2021 Ballon d'Or..."
The presenters began announcing the rankings in reverse order.
10th place: Bruno Fernandes 9th place: Harry Kane 8th place: Erling Haaland 7th place: Kevin De Bruyne 6th place: Cristiano Ronaldo 5th place: Jorginho
Ethan's heart pounded. He was top five at minimum.
4th place: Karim Benzema
Three left. Ethan, Mbappé, Lewandowski.
3rd place: Kylian Mbappé
Two left.
The cameras focused on Ethan and Lewandowski. Both legends. Both deserving.
"And the 2021 Ballon d'Or goes to..."
A pause that felt like an eternity.
"ETHAN LOKI!"
Explosion of noise. Ethan's hands flew to his face in shock. Griezmann and Pedri grabbed him, screaming. The Barcelona table erupted.
He stood, legs shaking, and walked to the stage. Lewandowski applauded graciously. Mbappé gave him a huge hug. "You deserve it, brother! First of many!"
On stage, holding the golden ball, Ethan addressed the crowd.
"This is... I don't have words. Thank you to France Football, to the voters, to everyone who believed in me."
He looked at his parents in the audience, both crying. "Maman, Papa—you sacrificed everything so I could chase this dream. This is for you."
"To my teammates at Barcelona—we won La Liga together. We won Copa del Rey together. This trophy belongs to all of us."
"To Monaco—you made me who I am. I'll never forget where I came from."
"And to everyone watching—I'm twenty-two years old. I'm hungry. This is just the beginning."
He raised the Ballon d'Or high. Flash bulbs exploded. History was made.
Ethan Loki - 2021 Ballon d'Or WinnerAge: 22 years, 8 monthsYoungest winner since Messi (22 years, 5 months in 2009)
The first of many.
End of Chapter 32