The morning air over Paris was sharp and silver, the kind that cut through jackets and made breath hang like whispers.
But it wasn't the cold that stirred the city—it was the anticipation.
Across Europe, television anchors leaned into their desks with glossy smiles and manufactured gravity.
"And tonight," one said on Sky Sports, "a new chapter in football history could be written. All eyes on Paris."
ESPN had already rolled out the montage—slow-motion clips of players stepping off jets, waving to cameras, slicked in flashy attires and quiet swagger.
Rodri had arrived a few hours earlier.
Lautaro was photographed boarding his jet in Milan.
Even Haaland, quiet as ever, had been spotted entering his hotel in Paris, surrounded by his usual wall of security.
Social media was louder.
@Krackalorn:
"Haaland's drip is outrageous. Everyone's showing up. EVERYONE. Except one…"
@:_XYZ_
