Goodwin, a Chinese teenager who was kicked out of the youth training camp three times, has no cheats, no protection from wealthy families, only a faint sense of prophecy and the Chinese stubbornness engraved in his bones.

After years of dormancy, he moved from the Championship to the professional league, and then soared to success.

He shattered the pride of the giants in European football with his unreasonable goals.

The Times' headline trembled: "Warning to all of Europe! Put aside your pride and prejudice, he is the king of football!"