14 juin 2025. Monaco. L'Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, avec vue sur la Méditerranée. Le plus beau jour de la vie d'Ethan Loki.
Le mariage était intime, exactement comme ils l'avaient prévu. Deux cents invités maximum. Famille, amis proches, coéquipiers. Pas de cirque médiatique. Pas de paparazzi. Juste deux personnes qui s'aiment et qui officialisent leur union.
Ethan se tenait devant l'autel, vêtu d'un costume bleu marine sur mesure, les mains légèrement tremblantes d'émotion. Pedri, son témoin, était à ses côtés, élégant dans un costume assorti.
« Ça va ? » chuchota Pedri.
« Terrifié », admit Ethan.
« C'est normal. Je m'inquiéterais si tu n'étais pas nerveux. »
La musique a changé. Tout le monde s'est levé. Et Sofia est apparue au fond de la salle.
Elle était à couper le souffle dans une simple robe blanche qui, d'une certaine manière, la rendait plus belle que jamais. Son père marchait à ses côtés, les larmes coulant déjà sur ses joues.
Tandis qu'elle s'avançait dans l'allée, Ethan sentit les larmes lui monter aux yeux. C'était réel. C'était en train d'arriver. La femme de ses rêves allait devenir sa femme.
Arrivée à l'autel, son père serra fermement la main d'Ethan. « Prends soin d'elle », dit-il simplement.
« Je le ferai. Je le promets. »
La cérémonie a été célébrée en français par un officiant local. Vœux traditionnels. Simples mais profonds.
« Ethan Loki, acceptez-vous Sofia Martinez comme votre épouse légitime ? »
"Je fais."
« Sofia Martinez, acceptez-vous Ethan Loki comme votre époux légitime ? »
"Je fais."
« Par le pouvoir qui m'est conféré, je vous déclare maintenant mari et femme. Vous pouvez embrasser la mariée. »
Ethan l'embrassa. Les deux cents invités éclatèrent en applaudissements. Pedri sifflait. Gavi hurlait. Lewandowski semblait ému.
Ils remontèrent l'allée ensemble, main dans la main, en tant que mari et femme. La réception se déroulait sur la terrasse de l'hôtel, avec vue sur le port. Le champagne coulait à flots. La musique résonnait. Les invités dansaient.
Le père d'Ethan a porté un toast qui a ému l'assistance aux larmes : « Mon fils m'a dit un jour qu'il voulait devenir le meilleur joueur du monde. Il avait huit ans. Je trouvais ça mignon, ce rêve. Mais il l'a fait. Il l'a vraiment fait. Et maintenant, il a trouvé quelqu'un qui l'aime pour ce qu'il est, et non pour ses succès. Voilà la vraie victoire. »
La mère de Sofia a porté un toast qui a fait rire tout le monde : « Quand Sofia m'a annoncé qu'elle sortait avec un footballeur, j'ai dit : "S'il vous plaît, n'importe qui sauf un footballeur !" Mais Ethan n'est pas qu'un footballeur. C'est un homme bien. Et c'est tout ce qu'une mère peut demander. »
Mbappé a porté un toast par message vidéo – il ne pouvait être présent en personne en raison de ses obligations avec le Real Madrid : « Ethan, tu es mon frère. Tu m'as poussé à me surpasser dans tout. Maintenant, tu es marié avant moi, ce qui signifie que tu réussis aussi ta vie. Félicitations. Je vous aime tous les deux. »
The party went until 3 AM. Then Ethan and Sofia snuck away to their honeymoon suite, exhausted but happy.
"Mrs. Loki," Ethan said as they collapsed onto the bed.
"I'm keeping Martinez professionally," Sofia replied. "But I like the sound of that."
"Mrs. Martinez-Loki?"
"Perfect compromise."
They lay together in comfortable silence, processing the day.
"What are you thinking about?" Sofia finally asked.
"About how lucky I am. About how I have everything I've ever wanted."
"Football-wise, maybe. But what about life-wise?"
"That too. Beautiful wife. Amazing career. Healthy family. What more could I want?"
"Kids?"
Ethan turned to look at her. "Are you asking if I want kids or telling me something?"
She laughed. "Asking. I'm not pregnant. But... should we start thinking about it?"
"After the World Cup next year. I want to be present. Want to be there for everything. This next year is going to be insane with the tournament in the US."
"So World Cup 2026, then we start trying?"
"Deal."
They sealed it with a kiss. The future felt bright, full of possibilities.
June 20th - The Honeymoon
They spent two weeks in the Maldives. Complete isolation. No football. No media. Just beaches, diving, and each other.
But even on honeymoon, Ethan couldn't completely disconnect. He checked football news once a day—a compromise with Sofia, who wanted him to fully unplug.
On June 23rd, he saw news that made him sit up in his beach chair:
BREAKING: Kylian Mbappé considering leaving Real Madrid after just one season. Multiple Premier League clubs interested.
What?
He immediately called Mbappé.
"I know why you're calling," Mbappé said, answering on the second ring.
"What's going on? You're leaving Madrid?"
"Considering it. It's been... difficult."
"Difficult how?"
Mbappé sighed. "The pressure is insane. The fans expect perfection every match. Ancelotti's tactics don't suit my game. And I hate losing to you."
"We've always competed."
"Not like this. At PSG, I could tell myself I was at a smaller club, that once I moved to a giant I'd dominate. But I moved to Real Madrid and you're still better. That's hard to accept."
"So you're running away?"
"I'm being strategic. If I can't beat you in Spain, maybe I try England. City, Liverpool, someone."
"That's bullshit and you know it. You don't run from challenges."
Silence on the other end.
"You're right," Mbappé finally admitted. "I'm just frustrated. Forty-six goals last season and we still lost the league to you. What more can I do?"
"Be patient. Real Madrid just signed you. Give it another year. You'll figure it out."
"What if I don't? What if you're just better than me and I need to accept that?"
"Then you work harder. That's what I'd do."
They talked for another thirty minutes. By the end, Mbappé had decided to stay at Madrid for at least another season. Sometimes friendship meant telling someone the hard truth.
August 2025 - Return to Barcelona
Ethan returned to Barcelona's training facility on August 3rd for the start of pre-season. The 2025-26 campaign was about to begin.
The mood at Sant Joan Despí was different. They weren't chasing history anymore—they'd already made it. Three consecutive Champions Leagues. Five consecutive La Liga titles. The question now was: could they keep it going?
Hansi Flick had brought in two new signings: a young Brazilian winger named Endrick (poached from Real Madrid's youth system, which made it even sweeter), and a German center-back named Schlotterbeck from Dortmund.
"Welcome back, treble winners," Flick said at the first team meeting. "Last season was historic. But history is in the past. This season, we have new challenges."
He clicked his remote. The schedule appeared:
2025-26 Season Objectives:
Win La Liga (6th consecutive - would match Real Madrid's 1960s record) Win Champions League (4th consecutive - unprecedented in football history) Defend Copa del Rey Win UEFA Super Cup vs Atalanta (August) Win FIFA Club World Cup (December in Qatar)
"Five trophies available," Flick continued. "We're going to try to win all five. Because that's what legends do."
Ambitious. Impossible, maybe. But that's what made it exciting.
After the meeting, Laporta pulled Ethan aside.
"I want to talk to you about your contract."
"I have four years left."
"I know. But I want to extend it. Eight more years. Until you're thirty-four. Make you a one-club legend at Barcelona."
Ethan had thought about this. Monaco had given him his start. But Barcelona had made him who he was. Five La Liga titles. Six Champions Leagues. Three Ballon d'Ors. All with Barcelona.
"What are the terms?"
"Forty-five million euros per year. Release clause of one-point-five billion. Highest-paid athlete in the world."
Forty-five million per year. More than any footballer in history.
"I'll think about it."
"Take your time. But know this—Barcelona wants you here forever. You're the greatest player in our history. We want to build a statue of you outside Camp Nou while you're still playing."
That image stuck with Ethan. A statue. While he was still playing. Immortality before death.
August 15th - UEFA Super Cup: Barcelona 2-1 Atalanta
The first trophy of the season. UEFA Super Cup in Athens. Barcelona vs Atalanta—the Europa League winners.
Atalanta played aggressive pressing football. But Barcelona had too much quality.
Thirty-fourth minute: Ethan scored with a brilliant header. 1-0.
Sixty-seventh minute: Atalanta equalized. 1-1.
Eighty-ninth minute: Ethan scored again, this time with a clinical finish after Pedri's through ball. 2-1.
Barcelona won the Super Cup. Their first trophy of the new season. Four more to go.
September-October 2025 - Domestic Dominance
The early season matches were professional but not spectacular. Barcelona won match after match, grinding out results even when not playing their best football.
September:
La Liga: 4 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses Champions League: 2 wins (new format meant more group stage matches) Ethan: 9 goals in 6 matches
October:
La Liga: 4 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses Champions League: 2 wins Ethan: 8 goals in 6 matches
By November 1st, Barcelona's record was flawless:
La Liga: 12 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses (36 points, 8 points clear of Real Madrid) Champions League: 6 wins in 6 matches (perfect record in new format)
Ethan had scored 23 goals in 18 matches. Ridiculous numbers by any standard except his own.
November 2025 - The Ballon d'Or Ceremony
November 17th, 2025. The Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. One year after winning his third Ballon d'Or. Now he was back, nominated for a fourth.
The competition was less fierce this time. He'd won the treble. Scored 65 goals in a season. Led Barcelona to a three-peat. The Ballon d'Or was essentially his before the ceremony began.
Sofia sat beside him, wearing an elegant red dress. They'd only been married five months but it felt like forever in the best way.
"You're going to win," she whispered as the ceremony began.
"You don't know that."
"I'm a journalist. I've talked to the voters. You're winning by a landslide."
She was right.
When Didier Drogba announced the results, Ethan wasn't surprised:
"The runner-up for the 2025 Ballon d'Or is... Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid."
Vinícius had an excellent year. But not treble-winning, 65-goal excellent.
"And the winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or is... ETHAN LOKI, BARCELONA!"
Four Ballon d'Ors. At twenty-six years old. Only Messi (with eight) and Cristiano Ronaldo (with five) had more.
The speech was becoming routine now. Thank the family. Thank Barcelona. Thank teammates. Promise to keep improving.
But this one felt different. This one felt like cementing his legacy. Four Ballon d'Ors meant he was undeniably one of the greatest ever. Not just of his generation—of all time.
When he returned to his seat, trophy in hand, Sofia kissed him.
"Four," she said. "That's Messi and Ronaldo territory."
"Messi has eight. I've got work to do."
"Ever the perfectionist."
"That's why I win."
Later that night, at the after-party, he got a text from Mbappé:
Mbappé:Four Ballon d'Ors at 26. You're making the rest of us look terrible. Congratulations, hermano. You deserve it.
Ethan:Thanks brother. Your time will come.
Mbappé:I'm starting to doubt that. But I appreciate the optimism.
That message worried Ethan. Mbappé sounded defeated. That wasn't like him.
December 2025 - FIFA Club World Cup
Barcelona flew to Qatar in mid-December for the FIFA Club World Cup. Seven teams competing for the title of world champion.
Semifinal: Barcelona 4-1 Flamengo
Ethan scored a hat-trick. Brazil's champion stood no chance.
Final: Barcelona 3-2 Manchester City
A rematch of their Champions League semifinal from last season. Pep Guardiola's City playing beautiful football.
The match was incredible—end-to-end action, both teams attacking relentlessly.
Ethan scored twice. Haaland scored both for City. Lewandowski got the winner in the eighty-seventh minute.
Barcelona were FIFA Club World Cup champions. Their second trophy of the season. Three more to go.
December 31st - New Year's Eve Reflection
Ethan and Sofia spent New Year's Eve at home in Barcelona. Just the two of them, reflecting on an incredible year.
"Married. Four-time Ballon d'Or winner. Two trophies already this season." Sofia counted on her fingers. "What else could you possibly want?"
"World Cup 2026. It starts in June. That's the only major trophy I haven't won since 2018."
"You won it at eighteen. Most players never win it once."
"I want to win it as the captain. As the leader. Lead France to glory. That would complete my legacy."
Sofia studied him. "You're never satisfied, are you?"
"If I was satisfied, I'd retire. But I'm not done yet. I want six, seven, maybe eight Ballon d'Ors. I want to be undeniably the greatest ever."
"Greater than Messi?"
"Why not? I'm twenty-six. I have eight, maybe ten more years at the top. If I win a Ballon d'Or every other year, I get to eight total. That ties Messi."
"And if you win one every year?"
"Then I surpass him. Become the greatest player in football history."
Sofia shook her head, smiling. "The ambition is both inspiring and slightly terrifying."
"That's what makes me different."
They kissed as midnight struck, welcoming 2026. The year of the World Cup. The year that could define Ethan's entire legacy.
Three moves ahead, he could see exactly what needed to happen:
Move one: Win La Liga and Champions League again. Make it six La Liga titles in a row and four consecutive Champions Leagues.
Move two: Lead France to World Cup 2026 glory. Prove he could win it as the captain and leader, not just a teenage prodigy.
Move three: Win a fifth Ballon d'Or in 2026. Tie Cristiano Ronaldo's total. Move closer to Messi's eight.
The hunger never stopped. The drive never diminished.
But he also had Sofia now. A partner. A wife. Someone who kept him grounded when the pressure threatened to consume him.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you too. Now come to bed. Even the world's best player needs sleep."
Elle avait raison. Demain, 1er janvier 2026, il reprendrait l'entraînement. La seconde moitié de la saison commencerait. Trois trophées à remporter.
Mais ce soir-là, il était simplement Ethan. Pas le quadruple Ballon d'Or. Pas le triple vainqueur. Juste un homme assez chanceux pour être marié à la femme de ses rêves.
Et cela suffisait.
Pour l'instant.
Fin du chapitre 67
LES RÉALISATIONS D'ETHAN - PREMIÈRE MOITIÉ DE LA SAISON 2025-26 :
Trophées remportés : ✅ Supercoupe de l'UEFA ✅ Coupe du monde des clubs de la FIFA = 2 trophées sur 5 obtenus
Distinctions personnelles : ✅ 4e Ballon d'Or (novembre 2025) ✅ Marié à Sofia (juin 2025)
Statistiques (août-décembre 2025) :
23 buts en 18 matches Bilan parfait : 12 victoires en Liga, 6 victoires en Ligue des Champions 8 points d'avance en Liga
Total en carrière (à 26 ans) :
6 Ligues des champions, 5 titres de champion d'Espagne, 1 Coupe du monde (2018), 1 Euro (2024), 4 Ballons d'Or, 515 buts en carrière
Objectifs restants pour 2025-2026 :
Remporter la Liga (6e consécutive) Remporter la Ligue des champions (4e consécutive - HISTORIQUE) Conserver la Coupe du Roi Qualifier la France pour la Coupe du monde 2026 ⭐