Su Hang: "But aren't there Spanish fans there too?"
"Maybe in your eyes, that section is full of Argentine supporters. But in mine, even if there's only one Spanish fan, I'd still reach out to him."
"I'm not the kind of player who needs a big crowd to show appreciation."
"Every single fan matters to me."
Reporter: "You're lying! There's no way any Spanish fans were there! They're on the other side! You're still lying! You're disgusting!"
At that moment, Romano handed his camera to Su Hang.
Su Hang turned it toward the broadcast camera and displayed a photo.
In a sea of blue and white, a lone Spanish No. 23 jersey stood out clearly—
a single spark of red among the ocean of Argentina colors.
It was none other than the gloomy-looking Ryan Zhang!
"Oh my God, there really was a Spanish fan!"
"Su Hang is incredible! He actually noticed the only Spanish supporter among all those Argentines!"
"He's so thoughtful—I'm crying!"
"The La Corneta reporters went too far. Their accusations against Su Hang were pure malice."
"Accusations? No—this is slander! They did it on purpose because Su Hang knocked them out!"
"Sore losers! The Argentines just can't take it!"
The La Corneta reporter was quickly pushed out of the media circle by his peers.
...
Kicker: "A substitute miracle? No—a divine substitute! The first hat trick of this World Cup, created by Su Hang!"
Bild: "He comes off the bench, scores three, turns the game around, and seals the win! That's the worth of a dual captain for Real Madrid and Spain!"
Gazzetta dello Sport: "Samuel lashes out at coach Pekerman for throwing away Argentina's golden opportunity. Fans demand his resignation!"
Marca: "The roar of 'Siu' echoes across Germany—Su Hang humbles Argentina!"
AS: "You ruined my paradise — we'll clip your wings! La Furia Roja finds its leader as Spain's captain topples the Pampas eagle!"
Mundo Deportivo: "Su Hang's goal celebration sparks controversy, embarrassing Spain before the world!"
Sport: "Three goals from Su Hang—but his poor character shows through. Bound to fade into mediocrity. Messi's dribbling shone brightest, leading the match in successful take-ons—his potential is limitless!"
Sky Sports: "After years of silence, he takes off! Su Hang is the perfect signing for any Premier League team chasing Champions League glory!"
BBC: "Su Hang leads Spain to break the curse! Their first World Cup quarterfinal in 28 years!"
London Globe: "Spain's new king crowned! Su Hang's hat trick slaughters Argentina in royal fashion!"
He'd gone completely unstoppable.
One match cemented the worth of La Liga's Best Player.
Spain's players themselves were in awe of Su Hang's performance.
Aragonés: "This is the scene I once imagined, though honestly, I didn't expect to witness it at this World Cup."
"Su Hang has taken Spain to the quarterfinals four years ahead of schedule!"
Simón: "Su Hang has always been that powerful. When he's on the bench, he's our secret weapon. When he's on the field, he becomes our banner."
Alonso: "Su Hang is the anchor of our attack. There's nothing he can't do."
Xavi: "He's a player who fills his teammates with confidence just by being there."
García: "When Su Hang's on the pitch, it feels like we've got an extra man."
...
The storm he stirred wasn't limited to Europe or the Americas—it swept through Asia as well.
Su Hang's roots and humility had long been known to the public. Every year, he visited his hometown in Sichuan with his parents, quietly supporting local youth programs.
Off the pitch, he worked with a small football foundation that sponsored underprivileged kids, giving them proper equipment, coaching, and hope.
He rarely mentioned it in interviews, but those who knew understood—Su Hang never forgot where he came from.
As his World Cup heroics spread, stories of his quiet generosity followed.
Clips of children in worn jerseys celebrating his goals in dusty schoolyards went viral across social media.
Suddenly, Su Hang wasn't just a football star—he was a role model, a symbol of inspiration for countless young fans.
If his club achievements had already sparked admiration,
then his brilliance on the world's biggest stage made an entire continent proud.
After all, the World Cup's reach and influence were unmatched.
Even people who never watched football knew his name.
For a while, it felt like the whole world was celebrating alongside him.
...
But as attention grew, so did the backlash.
A few self-proclaimed "true fans" began criticizing him online.
They said Su Hang wasn't a real superstar in Europe, that he wasn't famous enough.
Soon, others pointed out his dual captaincy, silencing them.
Then they claimed Su Hang only became captain through locker-room politics, not talent.
That too was crushed when his scoring record from the last two seasons resurfaced.
Finally, they insisted that while his numbers looked good, his technique was poor, and he'd fade within three years.
This time, however, before Su Hang's supporters even responded, the haters turned on each other.
Because the main hub of anti–Su Hang sentiment—China's largest Barcelona and Argentina fan forum, Just Because Football—announced its closure.
Its founder, Ryan Zhang, publicly admitted to his long history of attacking Su Hang.
He also shared his experience during the World Cup and thanked the anonymous photographer's assistant who'd given him the Spanish jersey.
Ryan said he would now focus on football itself rather than players,
promising to deliver honest commentary and fair analysis, asking fans for a chance to make amends.
It was the darkest hour for Su Hang haters.
From that moment on, bashing him brought no benefit whatsoever.
Well-known football journalists and commentators publicly expressed support for Ryan's decision to change.
They agreed that mistakes born of bias are common—but redemption is always worth more.
Of course, not every critic disappeared. Some still attacked Su Hang for clicks, or because they were backed by outside funding.
That kind of malice never truly went away.
But as Su Hang's name continued to shine across Europe, it became harder and harder to ignore the truth.
The first cracks began to show not in football—but in other corners of public life, where envy had long masqueraded as opinion.