Chapter 1 – Victory For All
My name is Ignacio Dé Hugo Salazar.Just Ignacio Salazar… but those who truly know me call me "El Ladrón."
I'm seventeen years old.I live in a poor, dangerous neighborhood.I'm the oldest child in my family. I also have a little sister.My father works construction to keep us afloat.I work as a waiter during the day, just to help bring something home.
Oh—and I play football.
Not the kind you see in shining stadiums with licenses and contracts.I play in illegal betting tournaments, on makeshift fields.Places where gambling lords make money,and we risk our lives.
The only way out of this life is being discovered.But in a neighborhood like this… that's almost impossible.
Tonight, we play again.Our opponents are undefeated.But we have to win.
The reason is simple: money.I have a family to take care of.
An hour before the match, we gathered as a team.What tied us together wasn't talent—it was fate.All of us just wanted to win this match and walk away with some cash.
Let me introduce them—
Marco Rivas.The oldest among us. Twenty-one years old, 190 cm tall.A center-back. The kind where the ball may pass, but the man never does.Nickname: Bulldog.He works in an auto shop, dreaming of becoming a real footballer someday.
Leo Álvarez.Eighteen years old. Short, but unbelievably fast.Right winger.Nickname: Flash.He wants to become a lawyer… though dreaming is a luxury in this place.
Dani Cortés.Twenty years old.Midfielder. The brain of the team.The one most likely to go pro.Nickname: Architect.His only dream is escaping this neighborhood.
And finally—
Iván Moro.Twenty years old.Goalkeeper. Lightning-fast reflexes.Nickname: Gravekeeper.His dream? No one knows. He barely talks.
That's us.Victory For All.Or simply—V4A.
Less than ten minutes remained before kickoff.We held a brief meeting.
Dani spoke first:"They're better than us. That's why we don't stop fighting for even a second. We funnel the ball to Ignacio and go straight for the goal."
I nodded in agreement.
Leo interrupted:"Why Ignacio? If you give the ball to me, we'll reach the goal much faster."
Marco backed him up:"They'll pressure Ignacio harder. Leo's right."
Dani's voice turned cold:"If you won't listen, then let's not step onto the field. The ball goes through Ignacio."
No one argued.We accepted it.
When we stepped onto the field, the atmosphere was different.No one came to watch football.Everyone was there to make money.
Just like us.