One year ago the villain of the team is now the man behind the team's promotion the Mask, Gwadiol

If he hadn't played football, he would be a fisherman now.

A year ago, he was the culprit behind the team's elimination from the European Championship; A year later in the World Cup, he was part of the team that qualified for the tournament. He was one of the masked men of the World Cup, a muscular 20-year-old Croatian man named Gwadiol.

Born in Zagreb in 2002, Gwadiol's father was a fisherman. When he was free, he would take out a soccer ball and play with him. Gwadiol became interested in soccer. At the age of six, he spent a pair of his future wearing Dinamo Zagreb shirt, who would have thought this dream soon came true.

His father sent him to the local club that same year, and as he was too young, he went straight down the ladder to play with the big boys, with whom he now plays well. When he joined the local giants as an eight-year-old, he was not one of the brightest in the squad by two years, but the coach recognised his off-field qualities. He is polite, humble and kind. Many people call him the fisherman's son, which is not so nice, but he is very proud to hear it and says to everyone: "My father is very good, can catch all kinds of big fish, if I didn't play football, I would be a fisherman, like my father."

When he was not even in the second team of Dinamo Zagreb, scouts from all over the world came to watch him play. One day the coach asked him to play in the centre of defence, he suddenly realized all his potential. Inter Milan also contacted his father at that time, and after discussing with his father, he decided to stay at home and develop and then go to a big club.

His phenomenal domestic growth reached a level unequalled in the history of the Croatian league and he was promoted to the first team after just four games in the second team of Dinamo Zagreb. After a season, everyone realized this kid was a notch above everyone and couldn't stay.

In 2021, he was signed by Leipzig for 16 million euros and earned a spot in the Qatar World Cup squad with his outstanding performances there. In place of veteran defender Vida, the 20-year-old Gwadiol has been a central force in the back, blocking, tackling, passing and even carrying the ball into the penalty area, allowing just two goals in Croatia's first four World Cup games. Against Belgium, Lukaku became the butt of jokes for his squandered chances, but it was Guevadiol who kept him close, and it was Guevadiol's crucial legacy that saw off a late Belgian comeback.

At a young age, Gvadiol set himself three goals to play for Dinamo Zagreb, represent Croatia in the World Cup and play in the Premier League. Now he has accomplished two goals and is well on his way to a third. Come on, Gwadiol, your story is just beginning.

"In 2018 I watched all Croatia's games in the World Cup and now we are at the end again and it is not easy," Gwadiol said. I dedicate this victory to my family, to my father, without him I wouldn't be here today and we can't wait to go home and celebrate."

"There was physical contact, but we won the third place and I don't really care about that to be honest," Gwadiol said of the penalty Morocco appealed.

At the age of 15, Inter Milan's scout saw Govadiol and offered to take him to Italy with a cheque. But the father refused. He wanted his son to get stronger before he could play for a big club.

Scouts describe Gwadiol as a teenager, fierce and intelligent, and if there was a template to compare him to, it would be Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola. It paid off. At the age of 19, he started the European Championship as a first-team left-back, only to be given a harsh lesson. He was nicknamed "the ATM" by fans for his poor defending against England and was knocked out by Croatia against Spain after drinking water on the sidelines.

For a young player to suffer such a severe blow, his mentality must be broken, but Gwadiol has a strong heart and, a year later, he is again a regular for Croatia, this time moving to centre-back.

Gwadiol suffered a facial fracture in a warm-up match before the World Cup and had to wear a mask. Masks vary from person to person. Son Heung-min's performance deteriorates when he wears a mask, but Gwadiol's performance improves.

In the World Cup, Croatia can in a surprise to reach the last four, in addition to Luka Modric, in addition to the defense of Gevadiol is also a contribution. Under his threat, Lukaku, the world's number one striker, failed to enter the house three times, thoroughly doubting life, Neymar led the Brazilian attack group repeatedly failed to return. Gevadiol has built a defence that looks more and more like Italy at its best.

No matter how far Croatia go in the rest of the tournament, most fans have no doubt that Gwadiol will be the world's number one centre-half.

A lot of giants have seen this, the World Cup is not finished, the price of Guvadiol skyrocketing, to "propose" the four giants, has already kicked the threshold of the agent. Of these, Manchester United has the highest bid of 100 million euros.

Gevadiol's time is coming. Is he the number one centre-back in the world when Croatia play Argentina on Wednesday? Boss May came to inspect the goods himself.