He saved the game. Exited. Went to bed.
“One day,” Marco thought, “this kid will be on a real cover.”
The first thing he noticed was the kit. Not the generic “Blanco” or “Azulgrana” nonsense—real, sponsor-laden, 2014-15 Nike and Adidas kits. The font on Messi’s back was the exact La Liga font. The referee’s jersey had the proper patches.
Marco scrolled through the endless forum pages at 2 a.m., the blue glow of his monitor the only light in the room. His cracked copy of PES 2013 sat in the disc drive, long past its official expiry date. But Marco knew a secret that FIFA players didn’t: PES 2013 wasn’t a game. It was an engine. And engines could be modded.
He played until 5 a.m. A Master League season with Liverpool 2014-15: Sturridge, Sterling, Gerrard’s last dance. He signed a young French striker named Kylian Mbappé from Monaco’s youth team—a face the modder had improvised using a generic model with dark hair and big ears.
“PES 2013 never die. Only become more legend. Enjoy, friend.”
Years later, Marco would own a PS5, play eFootball, and feel nothing. The passes would float, the players would skate, the menus would ask for microtransactions.
Iniesta (with his actual bald spot rendered) threaded a through ball. Suárez—newly transferred from Liverpool, wearing the #9—latched onto it. Marco felt the controller vibrate softly as Suárez fought off Sergio Ramos. He tapped shoot. Curled it. The net rippled.
He went straight to Exhibition Mode.
Marco smiled.