The sun dipped low over the AEK Athens training ground, casting golden shadows as Orbelín Pineda finished his final drill of the day. Sweat clung to his brow, but the spark in his eyes remained — undimmed, defiant.

A young teammate jogged up beside him, panting. “You never slow down, huh?”

Orbelín chuckled, juggling the ball with effortless grace. “I didn’t come all the way here to take it easy. Every minute is a chance to improve.”

Later that week, match day arrived — a derby, with everything on the line. As the whistle blew, Orbelín danced into action. His low center of gravity and rapid acceleration made defenders hesitate. He slipped between two, feinted past a third, and chipped a perfect ball into the box.

Goal.

The crowd roared.

In the post-match interview, a reporter asked, “What’s the secret to your rhythm out there?”

Orbelín grinned, tapping his chest. “It’s all heart. You play with your soul, not just your feet.”

Then he waved to the fans and disappeared into the tunnel — a magician leaving the stage, already dreaming of the next trick.