December 10th, 2027. Ethan sat in Hansi Flick's office at 9:00 AM, before training. He'd requested this meeting the day after returning from Paris with his sixth Ballon d'Or.
"I need to make some changes," Ethan said directly.
Flick leaned back in his chair, studying him. "What kind of changes?"
"My workload. I need to rest more. Be more selective about which matches I play. I'm missing my son's childhood and I can't keep doing that."
"This is about Lucas saying his first word while you were in Paris?"
"How did you—"
"Sofia told me. She's worried about you. So am I, frankly. You've been distracted for weeks."
Ethan felt relief. At least he didn't have to explain everything from scratch.
"I'm not asking to retire or reduce my commitment to Barcelona," Ethan clarified. "But I need boundaries. Some Copa del Rey matches, I rest. Some easy La Liga matches, I come off at sixty minutes. International friendlies, I skip unless they're crucial."
Flick nodded slowly. "I can work with that. But let me be clear—Champions League knockout rounds, big La Liga matches, El Clásicos—you're playing all of those. That's non-negotiable."
"Agreed."
"And you understand this might affect your goal-scoring numbers? If you rest more, you score less. That could impact future Ballon d'Ors."
"I know. But six is already more than most players dream of. If I win seven or eight, great. If not, I'll survive."
Flick stood, extending his hand. "Then we have a deal. I'll manage your minutes more carefully. You focus on being the best player in the world when you're on the pitch, and the best father when you're not."
They shook hands. It felt like the first smart decision Ethan had made in months.
December 12th - Champions League: Barcelona 3-1 Atlético Madrid
The fourth Champions League group match was at Camp Nou. Atlético Madrid visiting—Diego Simeone's team always defensive, always difficult.
True to his new philosophy, Flick rested Ethan for the first sixty minutes. Lewandowski and Ferran Torres started up front instead.
Barcelona struggled. Atlético defended deep, frustrated every attack. By the sixtieth minute, the score was 1-1. The Camp Nou was getting restless.
Flick turned to Ethan on the bench. "Ready?"
"Always."
Ethan entered in the sixty-first minute to a standing ovation from 95,000 fans. The impact was immediate.
Sixty-seventh minute: He scored. A brilliant solo goal where he beat three defenders. 2-1 Barcelona.
Eighty-ninth minute: He scored again, sealing the match. 3-1.
Four Champions League matches, four wins. Barcelona were cruising through the group stage.
But the important part: Ethan had rested for sixty minutes. Fresh legs. No unnecessary fatigue. And he'd still been decisive.
This was the balance Flick had promised. And it was working.
After the match, journalists asked about his reduced minutes.
"Ethan, you only played thirty minutes but scored twice. Is this your new strategy?"
"It's about being smart. I'm twenty-seven, not twenty-two. I need to manage my body better. If I can be decisive in thirty minutes, that's better than being exhausted for ninety."
"Are you worried this affects your chances at a seventh Ballon d'Or?"
"Not at all. Quality over quantity. If I perform in the big moments, the awards will come. Or they won't. Either way, I'll be healthy for the matches that matter most."
Perfect answer. Mature. Professional. And most importantly—honest.
December 15th - Lucas's Milestone
Ethan was home for three consecutive days—no matches, no travel, just family time. Sofia had blocked his calendar, insisting he needed this.
On December 15th at 4:37 PM, Lucas stood up on his own for the first time. No support. No help. Just pure determination.
He stood for maybe three seconds before falling back on his diaper-padded bottom, looking surprised by his own achievement.
And Ethan was there to see it.
"Did you see that?" Sofia said, her phone already recording. "He stood up!"
"I saw it! Lucas, do it again!"
Lucas looked at his father, smiled, and tried again. This time he stood for five seconds before falling.
Ethan picked him up, spinning him around. "You're so strong, mijo! So strong!"
Lucas laughed—that pure, uninhibited baby laugh that made everything else in life seem insignificant.
This. This was worth more than any trophy. Any goal. Any award.
That night, Ethan updated his journal:
December 15th, 2027
Lucas stood up on his own today. And I was there to see it.
Three days ago, I made a deal with Flick to rest more. To be more present. And it's already paying off.
I missed his first word. But I won't miss everything. Not if I'm smart about it.
The balance is possible. I just had to be willing to make changes.
He didn't write about three moves ahead this time. He just lived in the moment. And it felt right.
December 20th - Copa del Rey Round of 16
Barcelona drew a third-division team in the Copa del Rey—Gimnástica Segoviana. A team of semi-professionals playing in front of 5,000 fans in their tiny stadium.
Flick rested Ethan completely. Didn't even make the trip to Segovia. Instead, he stayed in Barcelona with Lucas and Sofia.
They went to the park. Watched Lucas interact with other babies. Pushed him on the baby swings. Did normal family things.
Barcelona won 5-0 without Ethan. Lamine Yamal scored a hat-trick. The young players got valuable minutes. Everyone was happy.
And Ethan didn't feel guilty for missing it. For the first time in his career, he understood that his presence wasn't required for every single match.
The team could function without him. They were good enough. Deep enough. Talented enough.
He didn't have to carry everything alone.
Christmas 2027
Ethan and Sofia spent Christmas in Paris with both families. Lucas was eight months old now—sitting up on his own, babbling constantly, developing a personality.
The Christmas dinner was loud and chaotic. Ethan's parents. Sofia's parents. Marie with Laurent and their daughter Camille. Everyone talking over each other, laughing, celebrating.
"Six Ballon d'Ors," Ethan's father said, raising his wine glass. "I still can't believe it. My son has six Ballon d'Ors."
"He also has one son who can stand up on his own," Sofia's mother added pointedly. "And that's even more impressive."
Everyone laughed. But the message was clear: family mattered more than football.
Later that night, after Lucas was asleep, Ethan and his father sat on the balcony of his parents' apartment, looking out at Paris's winter skyline.
"You seem different," his father observed. "Calmer somehow."
"I'm trying to find balance. Between being great and being present."
"And?"
"It's working. I'm resting more. Missing some unimportant matches. Spending more time with Lucas."
"Your mother will be happy to hear that. She's been worried you were turning into one of those footballer fathers who are never home."
"I was. But I'm trying to change."
His father put his hand on Ethan's shoulder. "You know what I'm most proud of? Not the trophies. Not the goals. But the fact that you're trying to be a good father. That's the hardest thing in the world. And you're doing it."
"I'm trying."
"That's all anyone can do. Try."
January 2028 - New Year, New Approach
The second half of the 2027-28 season began with renewed focus. Barcelona were top of La Liga by six points. Perfect in the Champions League (four wins from four). Still in the Copa del Rey. The third consecutive treble was very much alive.
But Ethan's approach had changed. He was more selective. More strategic. More willing to rest.
January 10th - Copa del Rey Quarterfinal: Ethan rested. Barcelona won 3-1. Advanced to the semifinals.
January 17th - La Liga vs Getafe: Ethan played sixty minutes, scored once. Barcelona won 2-0.
January 23rd - Champions League vs Inter Milan (Away): This was a big match. Ethan played the full ninety minutes. Scored twice. Barcelona won 3-2.
January 28th - La Liga vs Real Sociedad: Ethan rested. Barcelona drew 1-1. Frustrating result, but the team was exhausted and needed rotation.
By the end of January, Ethan's statistics showed the impact of his new approach:
January Stats:
4 matches played (down from usual 7-8) 4 goals scored More rest, more family time
Season Stats (So Far):
28 goals in 24 matches On pace for 45-50 goals (down from usual 60+)
The media noticed immediately:
Marca: "Is Ethan Loki Slowing Down? Goal Production Drops"
AS: "Ballon d'Or Winner Resting More - Age Catching Up?"
ESPN: "Ethan Loki's New Philosophy: Quality Over Quantity"
Ethan ignored the headlines. He knew what he was doing. And more importantly, he knew why.
February 6th - Champions League: Barcelona 4-0 RB Leipzig
The final Champions League group stage match was at Camp Nou. Barcelona had already qualified top of their group, so the match meant nothing competitively.
Flick rested Ethan completely. Leipzig were destroyed anyway—Lewandowski scored twice, Lamine Yamal added two more.
Final Champions League Group Stage Record: 5 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses. 15 points. 16 goals scored, 5 conceded.
Perfect group stage. And Ethan had been rested for one full match plus managed in others.
The balance was working.
February 14th - Lucas's First Birthday
The biggest day of the year had nothing to do with football.
Lucas turned one year old on February 14th, 2028—exactly one year since his birth on Valentine's Day.
Sofia organized a small party at their home. Just family and a few close friends. No media. No cameras. Just people who loved Lucas.
Ethan took the entire week off from training (with Flick's blessing). No football. Just fatherhood.
Lucas smashed his first birthday cake with both hands, getting frosting everywhere. He took his first unassisted steps (four of them before falling). He opened presents with more interest in the wrapping paper than the toys.
And Ethan was there for all of it.
That night, after everyone had left and Lucas was asleep, Ethan and Sofia sat together on their living room couch.
"Thank you," Sofia said.
"For what?"
"For being here. For making changes. For choosing to be present."
"I should have done it sooner."
"But you're doing it now. That's what matters."
Ethan looked at the photos from the day on Sofia's phone. Lucas smiling. Lucas walking. Lucas covered in cake.
These were the moments that mattered. Not goals. Not trophies. Not records.
These moments. These memories. This family.
Three moves ahead, Ethan's future looked clearer than ever:
Move one: Finish this season. Win the third consecutive treble. Cement the Barcelona dynasty.
Move two: Continue this balanced approach for the next few years. Be great on the pitch, present off it.
Move three: Eventually transition away from football. Maybe at thirty-three or thirty-four. Not too early, but not too late. Leave while still great but with enough time to be present for Lucas's childhood.
He had 284 more chapters in his career. But he also had one son who would only be young once.
And for the first time in his career, Ethan felt like he'd found the right balance between both.
End of Chapter 77