Beckham gradually walked forward. He was still wearing leather shoes, which was incredibly difficult to achieve even in football boots.
For any player, ball feel is paramount, and the details must be precisely controlled. Leather shoes and football boots differ not only in material but, more importantly, in shape.
Although football boots were available near the field, Beckham clearly wasn't inclined to change.
The more they doubted, the happier he became, because he knew he could accomplish this feat easily, despite not wearing football boots.
A few seconds later, Beckham took two steps forward, covering a meter in distance. The ball was at his feet.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on his feet. For a moment, it seemed as if the wind had stopped, with everyone making ample space for Beckham's final performance.
In the next second, Beckham kicked the ball high into the air. The movement was fluid and graceful, and the quality of the kick was exceptionally high!
The crowd watched with anticipation and soon noticed that the ball's direction and trajectory were unlike anyone else's before.
To fulfill the expectations of those present, Beckham chose this moment to recreate his signature "moonlight arc" shot.
The ball flew forward at high speed, with a discernible curve and rotation.
This was not a mere shot; it was from a distance of fifty meters. To accurately hit the goalposts would simply require kicking a regular ball, not needing to deceive any defenders or goalkeepers.
A ball with spin makes its landing point incredibly difficult to predict, with so many variables to calculate. Even a god couldn't precisely anticipate its trajectory into a small goalpost fifty meters away.
Regardless, it had to be beautiful. Beckham's signature "moonlight arc" was on full display on the field. Tonight, they were witnesses to this spectacle and felt genuinely happy and honored.
As the ball was still in the air, everyone erupted in cheers and exclamations of surprise.
Whether the ball would land in the goal was no longer important. What truly mattered was the visual spectacle. Just witnessing the "moonlight arc" movement and the ball's trajectory, they already had their answer: the current Beckham had not diminished much from his past glory.
Everyone unanimously agreed that Beckham was still a top-tier midfielder when he retired, and no one could question his status.
His retirement was widely considered too early. Seeing this kick today only strengthened that conviction. Even the current Beckham didn't need to return to his peak or his younger days.
Some individuals mature late, possessing a far greater understanding of the game than many strong young players.
Just as everyone's attention was gradually shifting away from the ball, an astonishing sight occurred. The ball, tracing a bizarre and unbelievable arc, landed perfectly within the goalposts.
The first to notice this phenomenon was Ronaldinho, who, upon seeing the ball successfully enter the goal, exclaimed in surprise and then excitedly embraced Beckham.
"This is incredible! Despite the curve, it still managed to hit such a difficult target. This isn't something just anyone can do; even many of the star players present wouldn't have been confident."
Beckham smiled faintly and began preparing for the next shot.
Whether it was luck or skill was impossible to tell from this single kick. However, if he managed to hit the target accurately twice more, the answer would be obvious: it was not luck.
Beckham himself knew his abilities best. Perhaps the people around him had underestimated him before, as evidenced by the news outside.
This time, Beckham didn't resort to a conservative method. It was another "moonlight arc" shot, the ball curving through the air with extreme rotation towards the goal.
There was no need for fancy maneuvers. The shot was incredibly fast. One moment there was a dull thud, and the next, the ball had landed steadily within the goalposts, spinning and circling the post a few times along its side.
This time, everyone was completely convinced. The news outside must have been false; this was Beckham's true ability, and they were fortunate to witness it today.
Thus, seeing is not always believing, but what is not seen is even less likely to be fact.
Beckham's third kick was also a "moonlight arc." This time, he kicked it casually, and it failed to enter the goal, only hitting the post.
The spinning football was indeed difficult to control, and its final landing point was something everyone present understood very well.
After all, this was basic knowledge for a professional football player, akin to knowing that one needs to eat when hungry, drink when thirsty, and sleep when tired. No one was unaware of such common sense.
Beckham smiled faintly, a smile that seemed to contain much or perhaps nothing at all.
In the end, this last kick, in everyone's opinion, was not made with full effort. But that no longer mattered. As the most brilliant star among the world's top midfielders, he had thoroughly proven his abilities and needed no further validation.
Whether it was the past legends like Maradona, Pelé, or Puskás, or current stars like Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, their popularity in the football world, or even globally, might not match Beckham's.
However, it's important to remember that Beckham wasn't famous solely for his looks; his skills also warranted his renowned reputation.
At this moment, Beckham's three kicks were complete, signifying the end of the entertainment match and the determination of the winners for the five groups present.
The crowd marveled at Beckham's final "moonlight arc" shots, feeling a sense of pleasant anticipation for more.
Everyone present turned their gaze back to Cao Baming, the record holder for the day, though it wasn't truly a record but rather a display of superhuman skill.