It's 2051. LOSC Lille are playing in the final of the Coupe de France, a competition they haven't won for 4 decades. 5 years ago, they were in Ligue 2. Yet here they are, in the final of a major competition after so long. It's tied, 0-0. The opposition, perennial title contenders Olympique Lyonnais, had dominated the match up until star midfielder Alexandru-Mihai got sent off in the 69th minute. Since then, it's been in deadlock, no side offering much offensively. LOSC striker Koutan gets a strike chalked off in the 84th for offside, and now it's in extra time. It passes quickly, no chances either side. That is, until the 119th minute of 120.

Pierre Gicquel was born in Lille in 2033. For all his 17 years, he'd loved the club. His parents recalled the glory days of the club to him, culminating in title glory in 2021. His entire life, he'd dreamed of being the one to restore his club to greatness, to have the captain's armband while carrying the team to national, even worldwide, glory. From a young age, the staff at LOSC knew he was special, even being touted as the next Kylian Mbappe. Small, a mere 5'7, but incredibly agile, he started out as a striker but quickly found his place as a winger. He tore up every youth division he played in. Now, here he is, 17 and it's his first professional season for the club. Gicquel has played a big part in the team's first title challenge since 2021, but to start the cup final, he was on the bench.

With the minutes winding down in extra time, LOSC's Dutch winger Ibrahim Jabbie was exhausted, and there was an obvious choice waiting in the wings. Gicquel stepped on the pitch, and if the weight of a city was on his shoulders, he didn't show it.

It's the 119th minute. There's 1 minute of added time. It's the last attack of the game. Gicquel and right-back Balek are exchanging passes on the wing. Suddenly, a hole appears. Gicquel sees it, and swiftly dodges inside before the defenders can react. He cuts to the edge of the box. He's on his weaker left foot. He doesn't care. He's 25 yards out. He doesn't care. All he cares about is this city, this stadium, the one he grew up in the shadow of. The stadium whose visitors now all stare at him in awe. This club, the one he's been sitting in front of the TV, watching, supporting, following, for every day of his life.

Pierre Gicquel strikes the ball. Everyone in the building knows where it's going. Top corner. Completely unsaveable.

Gicquel became a LOSC legend that day. Everyone knows that someday he might grow up, he might leave, he might even force his way out. None of that matters. On one sunny day in May 2051, football was the winner, and Gicquel was its vessel. Perhaps it's just a game. But in that fateful moment, that game changed lives, and gave the world a story to be told for generations to come.