"Inter Milan! My god! A brilliant cross from Crespo, and Zlatan Ibrahimović with a stunning volley — Maldini couldn't stop him at all!"
"Even though they battled fiercely, Zlatan just completely overpowered Maldini. He's getting old..."
Huang Jianxiang's commentary was tinged with sorrow.
It was the kind of moment that felt like the end of an era.
Just like how future fans might watch an aging Messi or Ronaldo struggle to keep up with the next generation...
Like Buffon waving his arms desperately but his feet too heavy to respond...
Like Ronaldo's growing frame unable to support the explosive speed he once ruled the world with...
All great players age.No matter how dominant they once were, eventually their bodies can no longer carry their ambitions.
Maldini squatted on the ground, his legs trembling slightly.
Only 15 minutes into the match, and his body was already starting to give in.
Milan's aging defense was clearly on the brink of collapse.
"Captain!"
Nesta ran over.
"I'm fine!"
Maldini waved him off and pulled himself together.
"Next time, I'll stop him!"
But deep down, they all knew — even if there was a next time, could he stop him?
Šuker retreated from the front line.
He didn't look toward Maldini, but rather stared across at Inter Milan's half.
Inter's strategy was crystal clear: attack Milan's weak back line.
They were trying to ramp up the pressure and break through quickly.
If Milan's back line collapsed under pressure, the game would be lost.
"No time for warmups."
Šuker looked at Kaká.
Kaká sighed.
He understood exactly what Šuker meant.
"Just get me the ball."
Time for a shootout — both teams going all-in.
This was about raw force and pressure.
Who would break first?
If it were Manchester United or Barcelona, maybe Šuker would accept defeat.
But this was Inter Milan.
Šuker's eyes sharpened.
"Nice work!"
Maicon clapped Zlatan on the shoulder, grinning wide.
Even though they had conceded earlier, Inter's forwards had quickly equalized — a huge morale boost.
And Milan's defense looked even more fragile now.
They had the upper hand.
Maicon didn't particularly like Ibrahimović.
He was arrogant and hard to deal with.
But... he had to admit — the man was a beast.
That volley just now said it all.
Now, they just had to hold the line and let their attackers keep shredding Milan's defense.
Once that happened, the game would be as good as over.
All season, Inter had lived in AC Milan's shadow.
All they had was a hollow Coppa Italia win.They lost the league title — at home.
It left a bitter taste.
How much longer would they keep losing?
Now was the time for revenge.
Maicon believed this Inter side was stronger than ever.
WHISTLE!
The game resumed.
Maicon stuck to Šuker like glue.
He knew — if he could neutralize Šuker, Milan's attack would stall.
Šuker made a few one-touch passes, barely engaging Maicon.
That only boosted Maicon's confidence.
"Got him locked down."
"Let's race."
Out of nowhere, Šuker dropped that line.
Maicon froze for a second.
Then Šuker started retreating.
"Don't run!"
Maicon chased immediately.
He didn't know what Šuker was up to, but he wasn't going to let him get away easily.
Šuker dropped deeper to the midfield line to receive the ball.As he collected it, he spun around with a Marseille turn, now facing forward.
Maicon stayed alert, adjusting slightly inward and giving him the outside — he was confident in his speed.
Šuker smirked.
He figured... Maicon would only learn the hard way after getting roasted by Bale a few years from now.
But he wasn't going to wait that long.
If Inter wanted to storm their defense, he wasn't going to sit back.
"They forgot who I'm backed by."
BOOM!
Šuker blasted the ball forward and sprinted after it — like an arrow released from a bow.
"Here we go again!"
Maicon lunged forward, trying to body him off and force him out wide.
He succeeded — temporarily — pushing Šuker toward the sideline.
But Šuker didn't slow down — he accelerated again.
With terrifying speed and burst, he shot forward like an F1 race car.
From the outside line, he blew past Maicon.
"You're kidding me!"
Maicon was stunned.
He had always trusted his speed.
But now Šuker, with nothing but raw acceleration, had passed him from the outside.
"What the hell!!"
"That speed is insane!"
"Šuker! DESTROY HIM!"
"Milan's supercar has always been Šuker!"
"Don't forget — back in Dinamo Zagreb, he was known for this style!"
"Maicon can't keep up!"
"This is unreal!"
The Huaxia fans in the stands were frozen in awe.
They watched Šuker overtake Maicon from the outside, collect the ball first, and carve a path through what had seemed like a sealed defense.
Maicon was now chasing from behind, and Šuker was already charging toward the edge of the box.
With this one run, he had ripped open Inter Milan's defense — and did it in the most unexpected way:
1v1 against Maicon — their strongest fullback.
In Serie A at the time, many believed Maicon was the only player who could handle Šuker 1-on-1.
Now, they had their answer: he couldn't.
Šuker charged into the penalty area and, amid heavy traffic, threaded a perfect pass to Ronaldo.
Despite his bulk and slower pace, Ronaldo's mind and technique remained sharp.
With a feint and a quick foot switch, he pulled the ball away from the defender and instantly shot with his right foot.
The ball stayed low, curling just enough to bypass César's reach and nestle in the far-right corner.
Minute 26.Just six minutes after Inter equalized, AC Milan pulled ahead again.
AC Milan 2:1 Inter Milan!
"What a burst of speed! Šuker singlehandedly ripped open Inter Milan's defense from the left!"
"Even Maicon couldn't catch him — even Maicon!"
Huang Jianxiang repeated himself, clearly shaken by what he'd seen.
Even the fans were clutching their heads in disbelief.
Maicon had been called the best right-back after joining Inter.
Many believed Inter lost their last league match because Maicon had been suspended (red card).
If he'd played, maybe he could've stopped Šuker.
But now — those theories were shattered.
Maicon was strong, no doubt.But Šuker was a monster.
He tore past Maicon like he was nothing.
Who else in world football could do that?
Maybe only Thierry Henry or peak Michael Owen could match his speed.
"Can't stop him — just can't!"
"Now I understand why defenders look dazed after facing Šuker!"
"He's got insane speed, AND top-notch footwork!"
"If speed doesn't work, he uses technique. If technique fails, he uses speed. One of them will work!"
"And not just that — he can PASS too! You believe this? How the hell do you defend that?"
Even Milan fans in the stands were overwhelmed.
The only way to handle him would be:
Assign a dedicated man to shadow Šuker off the ball.
When he does get the ball, form a 3-man net around him.
Rinse and repeat — maybe that'd slow him down.
But if even Maicon can't stop him, who in the football world can?
As for playing striker — well, Šuker's scoring rate is terrifying too.
The Huaxia fans shook their heads.
With a weapon like Šuker, if Ancelotti used him right, their offense could become limitless.