The Greatest of all Time

The Audi A8 came to a smooth stop under the illuminated canopy of the Grand Palais.

Zachary Bemba took a moment to steady himself, his hand brushing against the polished door handle. This was a night steeped in significance—the culmination of years of sacrifice and unrelenting ambition.

As the door opened, the brisk Parisian evening air greeted him, carrying the hum of an expectant crowd. He stepped out with grace, his 6'4" frame clad in a tailored navy tuxedo that accentuated his commanding presence.

The cheers from the gathered fans swelled as he waved, cameras capturing every detail of his arrival. Flashes illuminated the red carpet that stretched toward the venue's ornate entrance, flanked by eager spectators holding jerseys, banners, and signs bearing the names of their heroes.

The Grand Palais, with its Beaux-Arts splendor, stood resplendent, its glass dome glinting under the spotlights. The historic building, a Parisian icon since the 1900 World Exposition, was transformed for the night into a glittering stage for football's most celebrated individual honor—the Ballon d'Or.

Zachary walked the carpet, pausing to greet fans and sign autographs. A young boy in the front row caught his eye, holding a Liverpool jersey with "Bemba" emblazoned on the back.

Kneeling to sign it, Zachary offered the boy a smile and a few words of encouragement. "Always believe in your dreams," he said, his deep voice carrying sincerity.

The press line was next, reporters vying for a moment with the Ivorian superstar. "Zachary, what does it mean to be here tonight?" one asked, microphone extended.

"It's a privilege," Zachary replied, his baritone voice steady yet tinged with emotion. "To share this stage with players I've admired for years is an honor. Moments like these remind me of why I fell in love with football."

Inside, the splendor of the Grand Palais was breathtaking. Chandeliers cast a warm glow over the hall, their light reflecting off gold-trimmed pillars and elegant table settings.

The world's footballing elite filled the room, their laughter and conversation mingling with the soft strains of a live orchestra. Zachary took his place near the front, surrounded by the evening's nominees.

Luka Modrić, whose brilliance had powered Croatia to the World Cup final and Real Madrid to a third consecutive Champions League title, sat nearby, exuding quiet confidence.

Cristiano Ronaldo, ever the icon of poise, was engaged in conversation with his Real Madrid teammate Marcelo, while Lionel Messi, calm and contemplative, shared a laugh with Barcelona's Luis Suárez. Each nominee represented the pinnacle of the game, their presence a testament to extraordinary achievements over the past year.

The ceremony began with a flourish, the host taking the stage to welcome the audience.

A video montage then celebrated the year in football, showcasing breathtaking goals, pivotal moments, and emotional victories.

Messi's dazzling free kicks for Barcelona, Ronaldo's gravity-defying bicycle kickfor Real Madrid, and Modrić's effortless control in midfield were greeted with admiration.

When Zachary's highlights appeared, the room erupted in applause. His audacious strikes in Serie A, the decisive goals in Juventus's Champions League triumph, and his World Cup heroics for Ivory Coast stood out as defining moments. A clip of his recent thunderbolt in Liverpool's victory over Everton drew gasps from the crowd, a reminder of his seamless adaptation to the Premier League.

As the montage ended, the host returned to the stage to present awards for other categories.

Kylian Mbappé, the teenage sensation who had lit up the World Cup with his blistering pace and fearless dribbling, was named the winner of the inaugural Kopa Trophy, recognizing the best player under 21. Mbappé's exuberant acceptance speech drew warm applause, his charisma on full display.

Time passed with more nominees obtaining their awards, and eventually, as the ceremony neared its climax, the tension in the room became sky-high.

The Ballon d'Or trophy, its golden surface gleaming under the lights, was brought onstage, drawing every gaze. The host took her place at the microphone, her voice measured as she built suspense.

"And now, the moment we've all been waiting for—the winner of the 2018 Ballon d'Or, recognized as the best footballer in the world, is…"

The hall fell silent, the anticipation almost tangible. Zachary felt his heart pound in his chest, his hands resting lightly on the edge of the armrests.

"Zachary Bemba!"

The room erupted into thunderous applause. Modrić turned to him with a gracious smile, extending his hand in congratulations, while Messi and Ronaldo offered respectful nods.

Zachary rose slowly; the applause around him seeming distant, like a dream within a dream.

The echoes of the host's words—"Zachary Bemba!"—still reverberated in his mind. For a fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still. He wasn't just a footballer winning the Ballon d'Or—he was a man reliving every step, every struggle, and every sacrifice that had led him to this stage.

The weight of his journey pressed against his chest as he walked toward the podium.

The golden orb of the Ballon d'Or sat waiting, gleaming under the spotlight, and with each step, memories surged forward unbidden. Memories of a past life that was nothing like this, a life marked by unfulfilled potential and regret.

In that life, Zachary had been a mediocre footballer, riddled with injuries and crushed by the weight of failure. He had lived in the shadows of what could have been, longing for a second chance that seemed impossible—until the impossible happened.

He had been reborn, inexplicably granted a second life with a system that guided him, honed his talent, and sharpened his skills.

It was an unspoken secret, one he could never share, but it didn't diminish the pride he felt in what he'd achieved. The system had been a tool, but the work—the sweat, the determination, the countless hours on the pitch—was his.

The cheers grew louder as he ascended the steps, and his gaze caught the golden surface of the Ballon d'Or. Reflected in it, for a brief moment, he saw not the polished man he had become but the barefoot boy he once was, chasing a ball on the dusty streets of Bukavu, DR Congo.

He saw the face of his grandmother—her weathered hands offering him encouragement, her soft voice urging him to follow his dreams even when they seemed impossible.

Taking the trophy in his hands, Zachary felt its weight, its texture, its meaning. He turned to the microphone, his heart pounding. It was then that the applause faded, replaced by an expectant silence that wrapped around him like a cocoon.

"Thank you," he began, his voice steady but thick with emotion. "Thank you to everyone who made this possible—my teammates, my coaches, the fans. This moment doesn't belong to me alone. It belongs to all of you."

He paused, taking a breath as his emotions began to swell. "But tonight, I want to share something personal. You see, this is not just an award for me—it's a symbol of a journey that started in the streets of Bukavu, where a young boy dared to dream. A boy who played barefoot because shoes were a luxury, who practiced long after the sun had set because he didn't want to let go of the ball. And that boy was lucky enough to have someone who believed in him even when the world didn't—my grandmother."

His voice cracked slightly as he continued. "She was my first fan, my first coach in life, my first everything. She would sit with me when I was frustrated, tell me to keep going when I felt like giving up, and support me unconditionally. She believed in me more than I believed in myself. And even though she's no longer with us, I know she's watching tonight. This Ballon d'Or is for her. Thank you, Grandma, for everything."

Tears threatened to well up in his eyes, but he forced them back with a smile.

The hall erupted into applause, but Zachary was lost in his own thoughts. This was for her, for the sacrifices she made, for the nights she went hungry to ensure he had enough to eat, for the mornings she sent him to school with a hopeful smile even when their future seemed bleak.

He steadied himself, addressing the room once more. "To anyone out there with a dream, no matter how impossible it seems—keep going. Believe in yourself, even when others don't. If a boy from Bukavu can stand here holding this trophy, then anything is possible."

The standing ovation that followed was thunderous, but for Zachary, the noise didn't matter.

This was for his grandmother, his second chance, and the boy he used to be. As he lifted the Ballon d'Or high above his head, he silently promised her, and himself, that this was only the beginning.

Later on, as the ceremony ended and he stepped out into the crisp Parisian night, the weight of the trophy in his hands felt different. It wasn't just gold and metal—it was years of struggle and redemption.

As the Eiffel Tower sparkled in the distance, he whispered softly into the night, "Thank you, Grandma. I hope I made you proud."

Sliding into the waiting Audi, the Ballon d'Or resting on his lap, Zachary allowed himself a moment of quiet reflection. He thought of the life he had left behind, the second chance he'd been given, and the legacy he was building.

The journey was far from over, but tonight, as the best footballer in the world, he allowed himself to simply be.

In the meantime, the stars above Paris were shining brightly, but none brighter than Zachary Bemba.