Full time.Spain 3 – Germany 3.
And yet, the final wasn't over.
The referee signaled:Extra time.
Two halves of 15 minutes.30 more minutes to decide a world champion.
But before Germany took the field again—
All eyes were on Mateo.
The Medical Check
Inside the locker room,Mateo sat slumped on the bench, chest heaving.Jersey soaked.Right ankle pulsing like it had a heartbeat of its own.
The medical staff removed the wrap.
And gasped.
The swelling had doubled.
The bruising was dark, deep.Almost unnatural.
The doctor shook his head.
"This is… this is bad. I don't even know how he's still standing."
The assistant coach turned to Schuster.
"Coach—he can't go back in."
Mateo's Answer
Mateo heard them.Didn't interrupt.He just stared down at his ankle.
Then looked up.
"I'm finishing this."
The head doctor stepped forward. "Mateo, if you take another hit—"
"I'll take it."
"You might make it worse."
"Then I'll limp the rest of my life.But I will not walk away from this now."
Coach Schuster watched him carefully.He could see it:
The pain.The steel behind the eyes.The unbreakable will.
Finally, the coach nodded.
"One mistake, and I pull you.One drop in focus—you're out."
Mateo nodded once.
"Understood."
Inside the System:
[Pain Threshold: 92%]
Muscle & Ligament Damage DetectedMovement Penalty Applied:-25% Speed-15% Agility
Passive Skills Active:Emotional AnchorMental Fortitude"Champion's Instinct" (Cooldown)
⚠ Caution: Continuing will risk long-term physical consequences
✅ Continue
The Tunnel
Germany walked out first.
Mateo limped behind them,taped tighter than ever,ankle barely functional—
But heart stronger than ever.
Across the tunnel,Yamal watched him.
And for the first time—
He looked afraid.
Not because Mateo was stronger.
But because he refused to break.
Extra Time Begins
The referee blew the whistle.The ball moved again.The crowd roared with renewed fire.
And Mateo?
He limped into position.Face calm.
Inside, a storm.
"One last breath."
"One last play."
"Let them feel it."