World football system

The early morning sun filtered through the curtains of their North London home, casting golden light across the soft chaos of the Oliveira household. Toys were scattered, bibs were hanging off the couch, and the distant sound of giggling echoed from the nursery.

Tobi stood in front of the large window in the living room, holding Liam in one arm while gently rocking him. The baby boy was fussing — a tiny grumble that was nothing like the stadium roars Tobi was used to, but still loud enough to shake him from any lingering sleep.

"You're not a fan of 6 a.m. wake-ups either, huh?" he whispered, pressing a kiss to the baby's head.

From the hallway, Emilia appeared in her pajamas, hair a mess, but eyes full of warmth.

"Luna's trying to eat Ava's blanket again," she said with a tired smile, holding back a yawn.

Tobi laughed quietly, shifting Liam into his other arm. "They're already fighting over things that aren't food. We're in for a wild few years."

She leaned on the doorframe, crossing her arms and watching him for a second.

"You're good at this, you know," she said softly. "The dad thing."

Tobi smiled, walking over to her and giving her a kiss on the forehead. "Only because I have the best teammate."

Later that day, after the morning nap rotation, Tobi slid into his black SUV and headed for London Colney for light pre-season duties. Although Mikel Arteta had agreed to give him extended time off after the birth of the quads, Tobi insisted on easing back in gradually.

Inside the training ground, teammates waved him over, several making baby jokes. Saka grinned, draping an arm over his shoulder.

"Man's got a whole starting lineup at home already," he teased.

Tobi chuckled. "Give me a few more years and I'll have a bench too."

"You're glowing," Martin Ødegaard said with a smirk. "Fatherhood suits you."

But beneath the jokes, the respect was there. Tobi had proved himself season after season, not only as a world-class footballer but also as a grounded, loyal family man. He trained lightly, working with fitness coaches on flexibility and muscle tone, before heading back home by 2 p.m.

That night, as Emilia fed Luna and he changed Thiago's diaper, Tobi's mind briefly drifted to the upcoming Community Shield match against Manchester City. The team was sharp, and the new tactical shifts Mikel discussed in private had excited him.

But for now, this was his pitch — the nursery floor, the pastel blankets, the sound of lullabies humming from the baby monitor.

When all four babies were finally asleep and the house had fallen into a rare moment of silence, Tobi lay in bed beside Emilia. She rested her head on his chest, fingers tracing invisible patterns.

"Promise me something," she murmured.

"Anything."

"Don't ever let football take you away from us. Not really. Not here." She pressed her hand against his heart.

He wrapped his arms around her tightly. "Never. Football gave me a second life… but you, and them, you gave me a reason to live it."

She smiled against his chest, and soon, her breathing slowed into sleep.

Tobi stared at the ceiling for a long while, listening to the night sounds — the occasional sigh from a baby monitor, the ticking of the clock, the distant wind brushing past the windows.

His eyes finally closed, a soft smile on his lips.

Tomorrow, he would return to training more fully. The season loomed, and with it, new challenges.

But tonight, in the quiet calm of fatherhood, he had already won.

The soft sound of morning cartoons played from the television in the living room as Tobi carefully lifted a sleeping Ava from his chest. Her tiny breaths were warm against his neck, and her curly brown hair was tousled from her nap. Across the couch, Luna was nestled in Emilia's arms, already beginning to stir, her little fists stretching toward the ceiling.

The twins had grown so fast.

Tobi glanced toward the playpen where Liam and Thiago were babbling in tandem, slapping plastic building blocks against each other like it was a battle for dominance. The whole living room had transformed into a colorful chaos of baby toys, half-folded laundry, and a few empty baby bottles from a night of feeding rotations.

Yet, despite the exhaustion clinging to every muscle in his body, he smiled.

It wasn't long ago he was dreaming of scoring goals for Arsenal. Now, he was waking up to four beautiful children, a loving wife, and a football career still soaring. Life had evolved.

"Tobi," Emilia said softly, brushing her fingers across Luna's cheek. "You promised you'd nap after breakfast. Don't think I didn't notice you watching analysis clips at 3am."

He grinned sheepishly. "Scouting the new winger we signed. He's quick—reminds me of Saka."

"You've got training camp next week," she warned. "You can't go into it sleep-deprived."

Tobi groaned, finally laying Ava gently into the crib beside the couch. "I know. But I want to stay sharp. I'm not that 17-year-old at Sporting anymore, Em. There's a 19-year-old Brazilian kid in the youth squad who's already asking to take my number."

Emilia smiled knowingly, walking toward him. "And he's not you. No one is. You're Tobi Oliveira. Champions League winner. Two-time Premier League champion. Arsenal's beating heart. And the best dad I know."

He kissed her forehead. "Flattery'll get you everywhere."

They both laughed, interrupted by Liam toppling a stack of toy blocks and bursting into giggles. Thiago joined in, clapping like he'd scored a goal himself. The sight warmed Tobi's heart. For a moment, he wasn't a footballer. He wasn't a superstar. He was just a dad, home with his family.

But reality was calling. Preseason loomed just days away. And Mikel Arteta had made it clear: this season was about dominance. Arsenal wasn't just defending their titles—they were coming for more. The Super Cup was a few weeks out. Then Community Shield, and soon after that, the Champions League group stage would begin again.

Tobi had to be ready.

Late that night, after they'd tucked the babies in and Emilia had dozed off with a book in hand, Tobi slipped into the home gym. The echo of soft footsteps filled the room as he stretched, then began his routine: balance drills, core work, speed ladder.

His body remembered the rhythm. His muscles protested at first, but then flowed with each motion. He was stronger now—not just physically, but mentally. Fatherhood had made him more resilient.

Midway through a set of sprints, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Saka.

Saka 🦁:

"Bro you ready for another historic season or what?"

Tobi smirked, dripping with sweat.

Tobi 🐺:

"Born ready. Let's go make history again."

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