Goal II: Living the Dream 2008

Santiago Muñez (played by) makes a seismic shift in his life as he joins Real Madrid, leaving behind his roots with Newcastle United. His impending nuptials to Roz Harmison are now threatened by their logistical dilemma, as she remains in Newcastle to complete her nursing training. The move reunites Santiago with Gavin Harris, his former teammate at Newcastle, who finds himself substituted for Santiago in his debut game. As Santiago’s star status shines brighter on the Real Madrid pitch, he treats himself and Roz to a new home.

A sudden revelation from his long-lost half-brother Enrique, who ambushes Santiago with a photo of their mother Rosa María, sets off a chain reaction of events. His phone call with Mercedes, his grandmother, reveals that Rosa is alive in Madrid, leaving Santiago reeling. In the following match against Valencia, Santiago’s first start for Real Madrid ends in controversy as he receives a red card for a tackle on Vicente Rodríguez.

Post-game, Santiago finds himself face-to-face with Jordana García, a charismatic sports television personality. A night of revelry and shared passion culminates in a kiss that has far-reaching consequences. His absence from the team plane to Trondheim results in Santiago being benched by club manager Rudi Van Der Merwe. Feeling defeated, he fires his agent Glen Foy.

Gavin’s eviction from his home and subsequent move-in with Santiago sets off a chain of events. The two friends spend an evening playing football at home, but the fun is short-lived as Santiago suffers a knee injury that sidelines him. Rudi orders Santiago to undergo strict rehabilitation, effectively canceling plans for Christmas in Newcastle, further straining his relationship with Roz.

As tensions between the couple reach a boiling point, Jordana and Santiago share another kiss at Gavin’s New Year’s Eve party, which promptly leaks to the press. Roz calls off their engagement, leaving Santiago reeling. In the midst of this turmoil, Santiago meets Enrique, who steals Santiago’s gear bag and escapes to his parents’ diner. Rosa forbids Enrique from having any contact with Santiago.

Meanwhile, Gavin reclaims his spot in Real Madrid’s first team. At a club event, Santiago’s prized Lamborghini is stolen by Enrique, who crashes the vehicle and suffers serious injuries. As Santiago takes responsibility for the crash at the hospital, he becomes embroiled in controversy when a reporter sneaks a photo of him. His subsequent assault on the reporter lands him in hot water, but it’s at this moment that Rosa arrives at the hospital, her presence sending shockwaves through Santiago’s life.

As the curtain closes on Santiago’s triumphant Champions League campaign, he makes his way back to Rosa, bearing the weight of victory and the secrets that have long been hidden. She reveals to him the truth about her past, confessing that she had fled Madrid as a child after being brutally attacked by two men, one of whom was none other than Santiago’s own uncle. The revelation sends shockwaves through his psyche, forcing him to confront the dark underbelly of his family’s history.

Meanwhile, Santiago’s thoughts are elsewhere, focused on the upcoming match against Arsenal and the fate that hangs in the balance. He makes a bold move, persuading Rudi to give Gavin the nod over himself, a calculated gamble aimed at securing the young player’s contract extension and a coveted spot in the England squad for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup. With Roz’s forgiveness secured via a heartfelt apology, Santiago sets his sights on the Champions League final.

The game against Arsenal gets off to a disastrous start as Gavin concedes an early penalty, allowing the opposition to take the lead and seize control of the match. As the clock ticks away, Santiago is summoned from the sidelines, tasked with injecting some much-needed life into the Real Madrid attack. He forms a potent partnership with Harris, who finds the net to narrow Arsenal’s advantage to 2-1. But just as it seems that Santiago’s side are on the cusp of a stunning comeback, Arsenal deny them a bigger share of the spoils by converting their second penalty attempt.

With time running out, Santiago pulls off a moment of magic, combining with Harris once more to level the scores in the dying moments. And then, in a stunning turn of events, David Beckham steps up to deliver a precision direct free kick that sends the Champions League trophy hurtling into Real Madrid’s possession.