HAT-TRICK HERO!
UNSTOPPABLE YANG YANG!
CHINESE CAPTAIN LIGHTS UP THE EREDIVISIE!
AJAX ROUTS ROOSENDAAL 5–0 – YANG YANG STEALS THE SPOTLIGHT!
FIVE GOALS IN TWO GAMES – YANG YANG ON FIRE!
CAPTAIN, LEADER, FINISHER – YANG YANG ANSWERS THE CALL!
AJAX SEND EARLY WARNING TO EUROPE!
TEN GOALS, ZERO CONCEDED – IS THIS THE NEW AJAX ERA?
When the final whistle blew at the RBC Stadion, and Ajax's emphatic 5–0 away victory over Roosendaal was confirmed, a tremor rippled through Dutch football.
Following their identical 5–0 dismantling of Den Haag in the opening round, Ronald Koeman's Ajax had now racked up ten goals in two matches without conceding once. They not only dominated the table on points, but sat atop the Eredivisie with an incredible +10 goal difference, unmatched by any rival.
Trailing them were Louis van Gaal's AZ Alkmaar, Erwin Koeman's Feyenoord, and RKC Waalwijk, all also undefeated, but none boasting Ajax's dominant stats.
At the center of the storm was Yang Yang.
The 18-year-old Chinese forward not only wore the captain's armband for the first time in the Eredivisie but delivered an unforgettable performance, netting a hat-trick against Roosendaal. He now led the Eredivisie scoring charts with 5 goals from 2 matches.
Trailing him were Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Heerenveen) with 3 goals, and Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuyt, Phillip Cocu, and Shota Arveladze with 2 apiece.
De Telegraaf ran a glowing feature, crediting Koeman's tactical shift as the spark behind Ajax's blistering start.
"Ronald Koeman's restructuring has rejuvenated Ajax's attack," the paper wrote.
"The move from a more conservative double-holding midfield to a dynamic trio—anchored by De Jong, with Sneijder and a reimagined Yaya Touré pressing high—has unlocked wave after wave of offensive pressure.
The result? Ten goals. Two matches. Total domination."
They also praised Yang Yang's new role under this system:
"The young captain has been the biggest beneficiary. With more room to roam and fewer defensive shackles, Yang Yang has flourished in front of goal."
More importantly, the article pointed out that Ajax's quiet success in the transfer window may prove crucial.
"They kept Yang Yang. They kept Pienaar. They retained key pieces of the system—and now Ajax look not just like title favourites in the Eredivisie, but also contenders for a strong run in Europe. Group stage qualification is the bare minimum this season."
Other Dutch outlets echoed this optimism.
Feyenoord, though also on six points, looked less convincing. Under Erwin Koeman, the Rotterdam side had lost some of the offensive firepower that defined the Gullit era. Kuyt remained their primary weapon, but the team's edge seemed dulled.
Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar continued to adjust to life without striker Robin Nelisse, who had been integral to Van Gaal's setup. His absence left a noticeable gap, and it was clear the team would need more time to adapt.
Koeman himself, however, remained grounded.
Speaking to reporters after the match, he said:
"It's only two games. We've done well, yes, but we must stay focused. The real tests are coming."
He pointed directly to the upcoming third-round clash with Feyenoord, calling it "the first real test" for this new-look Ajax. Not just a top-of-the-table matchup, but a showdown between brothers—Ronald vs. Erwin.
Even more critical was what awaited just days later: a trip south to Monaco to face Champions League winners Liverpool in the UEFA Super Cup.
The coming week would reveal just how ready Ajax truly was.
...
...
Midweek, third round of the Eredivisie.
By the fifty-first minute, the score remained locked at 1–1.
Feyenoord were in possession deep in Ajax's half, looking to carve a path through the center. But just as they attempted to thread a pass into the box, Thomas Vermaelen stepped up decisively and intercepted, timing his tackle perfectly.
Maxwell quickly recovered the loose ball on the left flank and surged forward. Without hesitation, he launched a long diagonal pass over the top, targeting the space behind Feyenoord's defensive line.
Yang Yang, already reading the play, sprang into action. Bursting between the left-back and left-center-back, he raced after the ball with electrifying pace.
"Feyenoord's backline raises their arms—calling for offside!"
"But the flag stays down! No whistle from the referee!"
"This is a rapid counterattack from Ajax!"
Yang Yang angled his run toward the top-left corner of the penalty area. He reached the ball in stride and took it into the box.
Patrick Paauwe had tracked back and now planted himself at the corner of the six-yard box, angling his body to block any shot from Yang Yang's left side.
"It's a one-on-two inside the area!"
"Yang Yang isolated, facing two Feyenoord defenders!"
The second center-back was a step behind, ready to close down if Yang Yang cut inside. The positioning of both defenders, combined with the alert stance of goalkeeper Patrick Lodewijks, left Yang Yang with almost no space.
But limitations don't mean much to players of his caliber.
Near the corner of the six-yard box, Yang Yang suddenly came to a halt, dragging the ball back sharply with his right foot, feinting as if preparing to shoot.
Paauwe bit on the feint, shifting his weight.
In that instant, Yang Yang's body twisted left, then immediately snapped right with a deft step-over—one fluid motion disguised as two.
"A feint left—then right!"
"A breathtaking piece of skill from Yang Yang!"
With Paauwe's weight off balance, Yang Yang touched the ball into the narrow channel toward the byline. He had manufactured a gap that barely existed.
And this is where his two-footed ability became lethal. As the defender stumbled to recover, Yang Yang cut back onto his left, took one glance at the near post—and fired.
The ball zipped low between the goalkeeper and the upright.
GOAL!
"Goooooooooooooooooal!"
"Fifty-first minute! Ajax retake the lead!"
"Yang Yang takes on the entire Feyenoord defense and still finds a way through! What composure, what precision!"
"From Maxwell's long ball to the last step-over, this was a goal carved from pure talent and self-belief!"
"And for those who remember—two years ago, Yang Yang was criticized for his shaky ball control. But now? Look at him! It's one of his biggest strengths."
"He didn't just fix a flaw—he transformed it into a weapon!"
"With this goal, he now has six in the league—just three matches into the season!"
"Earlier in the match, he assisted Charisteas for the opener in the 7th minute, before Heitinga's error allowed Kalou to feed Kuyt for the equalizer."
"But when Ajax needed someone to step up again—it was Yang Yang!"
"Over 50,000 Ajax fans rising to their feet—chanting his name!"
"This... this is the hero of Amsterdam!"
...
...
When Yang Yang scored again to put Ajax in front, the blow to Feyenoord was immediate and brutal.
From the first whistle, Ajax had seized control of the match with relentless pressure. Their high-intensity pressing and sharp transitions left Feyenoord struggling to establish any rhythm. The midfield trio of Yaya Touré, Sneijder, and De Jong dictated the pace, suffocating Feyenoord's attempts to build out and starving their forwards of service.
But against the run of play, and completely unexpectedly, it was Heitinga who faltered. Returning from suspension after his red card in the opening round, he was clearly not at his best. His mistimed clearance in the first half fell directly to Kalou, who pounced on the error and fed Kuyt for the equalizer.
That was Kuyt's third goal in the league already—though this one owed more to Ajax's lapse than Feyenoord's brilliance.
Still, with Yang Yang's strike putting Ajax 2–1 ahead again, it was a gut-punch to the visitors, and their confidence wavered. Barely two minutes after the restart, they lost shape again.
Steven Pienaar, combining with Maxwell on the left, sliced through Feyenoord's weakened flank. His cross skidded to the top of the penalty area, where Sneijder met it in full stride and hammered a low shot past the keeper.
3–1 Ajax!
That marked Sneijder's third goal in as many league games—a perfect start to the season.
The midfielder let out a roar of celebration, pumping both fists as he turned toward the crowd. It was a rare burst of emotion from Sneijder. On the surface, he often appeared reserved and focused, but Yang Yang knew better. Beneath the calm exterior was a fierce competitor with an untamed fire.
In the end, Ajax's 3–1 victory over Feyenoord was decisive. One goal and one assist from Yang Yang sealed his third straight dominant performance, and Ajax maintained their perfect record at the top of the Eredivisie table.
After the final whistle, Dirk Kuyt was the first to find Yang Yang on the pitch. The two exchanged a warm handshake and traded shirts. Kuyt clapped Yang Yang on the shoulder.
"Last season, you were chasing me," he grinned. "Now it's my turn. I'm still three behind, but don't get too comfortable."
Yang Yang laughed. "Then you'd better hurry up. I've still got plenty of energy left."
Kuyt smiled, half-impressed, half-envious. But even in defeat, he held his head high. He wasn't about to concede anything—not even in conversation.
Elsewhere, Feng Xiaoting had made the matchday squad for the second game in a row but once again remained an unused substitute.
After the game, Yang Yang found him in the tunnel and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Hang in there," he said calmly. "Those two center-backs Feyenoord started today? Honestly, they're not better than you. You just need to stay sharp, train hard, and wait. Your moment will come."
Feng Xiaoting nodded, taking the words to heart. The sight of the Ajax captain's armband wrapped around Yang Yang's left arm filled him with both admiration and motivation.
Yang Yang had become more than just a teammate.
He was the benchmark. The reason to keep pushing. The proof that hard work could rewrite destiny.
...
...
After Ajax's 3–1 victory over Feyenoord, the Dutch media erupted once again.
Much of the spotlight was placed on Yang Yang, whose blistering start to the season had fans and pundits alike raising their expectations. He was now widely regarded as the leading candidate for the Eredivisie Golden Boot, and there was growing anticipation over what he could do on the European stage. Many were eager to see if his domestic form would carry over into continental competition.
That opportunity was coming fast.
The UEFA Super Cup, set for the weekend, would be Ajax's first real test of the new season against a true European heavyweight. Their opponents? Liverpool—the reigning Champions League winners, fresh off their legendary comeback in Istanbul.
After dispatching Feyenoord midweek, Ajax were granted a brief day of rest back in Amsterdam. The following day, the team boarded a direct flight to Monaco, in the south of France. Liverpool, meanwhile, departed from England around the same time. Both sides arrived in Monte Carlo within hours of each other, though they were booked into separate hotels.
Later that same afternoon, UEFA extended an invitation to Ajax's delegation to attend the official Champions League group stage draw. Head coach Ronald Koeman, accompanied by Yang Yang and several club officials, headed to the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo to take part in the prestigious ceremony.
...
...
This was Yang Yang's first time being invited to such a high-profile event in European football.
A year ago, he was still seen as a promising newcomer. Though he had helped Ajax win the UEFA Champions League and even scored the decisive goal in the final, his role had mostly been that of a substitute. In the eyes of the European football establishment, he was still just a rising prospect — talented, yes, but untested at the highest level over a full season. Naturally, he hadn't been invited to ceremonies of this magnitude.
But this year, everything had changed.
Yang Yang had exploded into prominence as the undisputed leader of Ajax. He guided them to the Eredivisie title, shattering Ronaldo's long-standing record for most goals in a single Dutch league season — a benchmark that had stood untouched for a decade. Across the continent, there was no more denying it: he was the number one player in the Eredivisie.
And it didn't stop there. In Europe, he had led Ajax to UEFA Cup glory as their core talisman and was named the tournament's best player. These achievements had dramatically elevated his status — not only within the Netherlands, but across the continent.
UEFA's invitation to attend the Champions League group stage draw in Monte Carlo was a sign of that growing recognition. So was the invitation from FIFA to attend the FIFA World Player of the Year ceremony later in December.
More remarkably, Yang Yang had been included in the list of official nominees for the FIFA World Player of the Year award. He was the first Asian player in history to be shortlisted — something that no one from the continent had ever achieved before.
Naturally, this news triggered massive excitement back in China. The domestic press followed every update closely, some even daring to speculate that Yang Yang could challenge for UEFA's annual awards. But Yang Yang himself knew better.
He understood the unwritten rule: the UEFA Club Football Awards were, in truth, awards for the Champions League. The UEFA Cup was still seen as secondary — a place for strong teams, but not Europe's elite.
That was precisely why he had decided to remain at Ajax another year.
In European football, proving yourself in the Champions League was an entirely different matter. A good season in the UEFA Cup could earn you respect. A great season in the Champions League could earn you a place among the elite.
Yang Yang knew that. He also knew that although his results from last season were impressive, his true edge — the factor that kept everyone watching — was his age.
Eighteen.
His goals, his trophies, his accolades — all of it was staggering when placed against his birthdate. That made him the face of a new generation. And for now, the world was watching.
But Yang Yang remained clear-headed. In football, fame could be fleeting. If he didn't take the next step soon, the attention would shift. There would always be a second, a third, a fourth waiting to take the spotlight.
That pressure — the fear of fading — was what drove him forward. He wasn't finished. Not even close.
...
...
As soon as Yang Yang entered the venue, a UEFA staff member approached him with a warm greeting and led him to the players' designated seating area.
Everyone allowed in this space held real weight in European football—executives from the 32 Champions League clubs, legendary managers, and iconic players past and present. Yang Yang took his seat and looked around, immediately spotting familiar faces: household names, coaches he had seen only on television, and European football legends now sharing the same room with him.
But the one that caught his eye instantly was Barcelona's Ronaldinho.
Widely considered the current best player in the world, Ronaldinho was seen by many as the heir to Ronaldo Nazário's crown—not just in Brazil, but globally. He was electrifying, joyful, and seemingly untouchable. Yang Yang admired him immensely.
He hesitated for a moment, debating whether to go over and greet the Brazilian. What if Ronaldinho didn't recognize him? What if it became awkward?
But before he could decide, Ronaldinho spotted him, smiled broadly, and walked over.
"Hello, Yang," he said, flashing that famous toothy grin.
Startled but thrilled, Yang Yang stood up instantly and shook his hand, trying to keep his composure. "Hello!" he said, beaming.
"Your performance last season was brilliant," Ronaldinho continued. "I still remember that Cruyff turn you pulled off against Villarreal—then added the step-over, and dribbled past the keeper like it was nothing. Reina told me he thought he had it covered, but you were already two steps ahead."
"Reina?" Yang Yang asked, slightly surprised.
Ronaldinho chuckled. "Yeah. He came up through our youth academy at Barça, and now he's with Liverpool. Small world, huh?"
Yang Yang nodded, realizing how closely knit the top tiers of European football really were.
"Oh—and Messi, our little Leo, he's been watching you," Ronaldinho added, grinning wider. "Tried your Villarreal move in training the other day. Still needs some polish, but he's determined."
Yang Yang couldn't help but laugh. That Ronaldinho had not only watched his performances but even talked about them with Messi was surreal.
"I was just improvising in that game," Yang Yang admitted modestly.
Ronaldinho nodded. "That's what it's about. Football should be joyful, spontaneous. Too many teams turn it into a grind."
Yang Yang agreed immediately. He had always admired the way Brazilian players seemed to treat the game as both art and expression.
"And don't forget," Ronaldinho added with a teasing glint in his eye, "Messi's coming back stronger after the World Youth Championship. He wants a rematch."
There was genuine affection in Ronaldinho's voice—an older brother talking about a younger sibling. Yang Yang could sense the bond they shared at Barcelona, and for a moment, he felt a flicker of envy. That kind of mentorship… it made a difference.
"Then please tell him I'll be waiting," Yang Yang replied with a confident smile. "And I won't go easy."
Ronaldinho laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "That's the spirit! I like you."
There was no room for weakness at this level. Players at the top respected confidence—earned confidence. Ronaldinho could see that in Yang Yang.
Only then did Yang Yang begin to take in the rest of the room. Seated nearby were Brazil's Kaka from AC Milan and Adriano from Inter, both elite stars and faces of their clubs. Yang Yang had admired them from afar, but now he was sharing the room with them as a peer—at least in setting, if not yet in stature.
Ajax still felt like an outsider in this space. Despite all their history, Yang Yang could feel the weight of reputation that came with playing for Europe's top-tier clubs. Kaka, Adriano, Gerrard—they were Champions League regulars, title contenders, household names.
Yang Yang knew he hadn't reached that level yet.
Still, there were encouraging signs. He was seated in the second row, just ahead of Gerrard and Kaka. Both greeted him kindly. Gerrard extended his hand first, offering a brief but respectful handshake. The Englishman's serious demeanor and strong presence gave off an aura of leadership.
Kaka was different—gentle, smiling, and effortlessly charismatic. He spoke softly and with genuine interest, even turning during the ceremony to make light conversation. Yang Yang already admired him as a player, but in person, he found it impossible not to like him.
He remembered sitting in the stands at the Amsterdam Arena two years earlier, watching Kaka dismantle Ajax with AC Milan. Back then, Yang Yang had been an unknown. Kaka didn't know who he was.
Today, he did.
This was how far he'd come.
And yet, as he looked around the room filled with giants, Yang Yang understood he still had a long way to go. His dominance in the Eredivisie, his UEFA Cup title, even his record-breaking stats—none of it mattered unless he proved himself in the Champions League.
He was 18. That was his one advantage.
And he would make the most of it.
Because if he didn't? The football world would move on. Someone else—Messi, perhaps—would rise. Another headline, another wonderkid.
But not if Yang Yang could help it.
Not if he kept climbing.
Not if he stayed ready.