A footballer's life can essentially be divided into two phases: their professional playing career, and their life after retirement.
The fame a player accumulates during their career can benefit them for the rest of their life.
However, after retirement, the fields they enter are far more competitive, so the boost that fame provides is inevitably reduced by several levels.
A first-tier star, after retiring and moving into another field, usually ends up as a third-tier celebrity.
A top-tier star, after retirement, becomes a first-tier celebrity.
But the unique title of King of Football almost never depreciates in value.
After Zidane retires, no matter what he chooses to do, he will receive top-tier treatment in that field.
The moment he announces that he wants to become a head coach, clubs with close ties to him—Real Madrid, Juventus, the French national team—can immediately put contracts on the table.
Even Manchester United without Ferguson, Arsenal without the Professor, Chelsea without Mourinho, as well as Barcelona, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, and Inter Milan would all line up to talk to Zidane.
That is the true value of the King of Football title.
But this only reflects how the title affects Zidane's life after retirement.
Its impact on his playing career is actually quite limited.
Because Zidane is about to retire.
In the next six months, Real Madrid might practically not have any away matches at all.
Wherever Zidane plays, there's a strong chance a ceremony will be held for him—wherever that is instantly becomes Real Madrid's home ground.
That's not an exaggeration.
After all, when Kobe retired, he essentially played a full year of farewell games.
And Kobe wasn't even considered the god of basketball at the time.
The platform, the star, the fame, the timing of retirement—everything was in place.
More importantly, there was a broader backdrop: the Twilight of the Gods.
Zidane, as this King of Football, essentially gathered all the remaining attention of the era of gods into himself.
Once Zidane leaves football, that enormous flow of attention needs a new destination.
Originally, over the next several years, it would have gradually dispersed among players like Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robben, Ribéry, Sneijder, Van Persie, Ibrahimović, Rooney, Xavi, Iniesta, Benzema, Neymar, Suárez, and others.
But now, that attention is very unlikely to flow to them.
Because proximity matters.
Real Madrid already has someone who can absorb an incredible amount of attention.
Young age, Ballon d'Or in hand.
World Cup trophy, seven titles in one year.
Questionable talent, controversial debut.
Obvious improvement, iron-blooded style of play.
Willing to sacrifice, decisive in critical moments.
Honestly—whatever you want, Su Hang has it.
Whether it's the media or the fans, everyone can find what they're looking for in Su Hang.
So, the name of the King of Football belongs to Zidane.
But the substance of the King of Football belongs to Su Hang.
Zidane bore the brunt of South America's pressure and opened the path for a European King of Football. The result was that he would forever be torn at by South Americans and perpetually struggle to gain their full recognition.
Su Hang, on the other hand, comfortably enjoys the protection of Zidane's shadow. If his career progresses smoothly enough, he could be crowned the fourth-generation King of Football without resistance.
With Zidane as both precedent and target, Su Hang's coronation as the fourth-generation King of Football would be universally acknowledged.
Its value would surpass that of Pelé, Maradona, and Zidane.
He would essentially become the true King of Kings.
This is not something one generation can accomplish alone.
Some things require time to settle—requiring countless lives as their foundation.
Unmatched talent and dominance can shorten that time, but they cannot skip certain necessary stages altogether.
It's the same logic as asking: why should the intelligence and brilliance of one person surpass the accumulated wisdom of multiple generations?
Those who believe Su Hang can simply keep winning and be crowned King of Football aren't wrong.
They're just overlooking how complex the world really is.
That's precisely why, the moment Su Hang met Zidane, he insisted on elevating Zidane to King of Football status.
He could have done the same with Ronaldo.
Those two were the closest to the throne during the era of the gods.
Su Hang also had the ability to forcibly elevate Ronaldo.
Although Ronaldo's injury issues were harder to resolve, Su Hang could have used both aggressive medical treatment and tactical support, acting as Ronaldo's golden partner. Their complementary styles would have built chemistry even more easily.
It would have been simpler than backing Zidane.
Forwards are naturally more expressive on the pitch and more readily accepted by fans than midfielders.
But Ronaldo is Brazilian.
If Ronaldo became King of Football, it would feel only natural—and the obstacles Su Hang would face in the future would not diminish at all.
Moreover, much of the attention Ronaldo relinquished would be absorbed by South American and Brazilian forwards.
Su Hang would at best receive only a fraction.
As for why Ronaldinho wasn't chosen, it's because his hard honors were still far from King of Football level.
His peak ability might have reached that tier.
But his historical standing sits in the same range as Figo and Rivaldo—and that's already factoring in the boost from his playing style and personal story.
At the very least, compared to Figo in this world—who enjoyed a second spring and won a treble—Ronaldinho still fell short.
Of course, in this world, Ronaldinho's future might not follow the usual trajectory. His peak could very well be extended.
Additionally, Zidane's future was simply a better investment than Ronaldo's.
This was the Zidane who would lead Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles and establish a true Real Madrid dynasty.
But the most important reason of all was…
He just felt right.
From Su Hang's first substitute appearance in the Copa del Rey final, he shouted, "Figo, pass!" and immediately won a penalty.
And the one who converted that penalty was Zidane.
He gave meaning to Su Hang's first decisive moment.
Later, Su Hang called out, "Zizou, through ball," and Zidane assisted him for a last-minute winner against Zaragoza.
That was the beginning of Su Hang's football career.
After that, Zidane successively gave Su Hang the "Marseille Turn," the "Moment Card," and "adult reading material"… wait, something seems mixed in there.
When Su Hang made his first start against Sevilla, Zidane pulled him aside before kickoff and meticulously pointed out every weakness he had spotted in the opposition.
Throughout the match, Zidane kept feeding him through balls, helping him adapt through actual play.
Later still, Zidane stood up for Su Hang in front of Queiroz, helping him bring down Luxemburgo…
Sometimes, friendships form for no clear reason at all.
Only later do you realize that you've already walked through countless storms together.
Glad to have met you, Zidane.
...
"Glad to have met you, Su Hang!"
Late at night, Paris, at Zidane's home.
Staring at the newly added FIFA World Player of the Year trophy in his trophy room, Zidane felt a storm of emotions.
In his entire life, he had never won anything that didn't belong to him.
That included this FIFA World Player of the Year trophy. If he and Su Hang had truly competed head-on, Zidane would most likely have been the real winner.
Even if future generations might believe the trophy should have belonged to Su Hang.
But this was the result at this moment in time.
And yet…
Could he really bear the weight of the words King of Football?