October 15, 2017. The Derby della Madonnina.
In the days leading up to the game, the internet buzzed with noise. Inter fans littered the comments of Milan's posts:
@NerazzurriElite: "#72 Milan is just hype. Let's see what he does in a real match."
@InterUltra1908: "He's never played a real derby in his life. Watch him disappear."
@ZapataFanForLife: "All style, no end product. This ain't Austria Vienna, kid."
But Milan's fans hit back.
@RossoneriHeart: "Y'all about to find out who Milan Martinez Villa really is."
@72King: "Haters stay loud until the scoreboard shuts them up."
@JamaicanSilk: "When this boy cooks, he cooks the whole stadium."
San Siro was volcanic. Over 78,000 packed into the stadium, red and blue flares painting the night sky, banners rising like waves of war, and chants echoing like ancient battle hymns.
This wasn't a game. This was a war.
Vincenzo Montella stood in front of the team, face steely, eyes locked on his boys. "Tonight, forget the tactics. Forget the standings. Play like your life depends on it. Play for the crest."
Milan Martinez Villa sat silently, airpods in, bobbing his head to his match playlist. When he looked up, Suso nodded across the dressing room. "You ready, little bro?"
Milan smirked. "I was born ready."
---
Kickoff.
The game opened with Inter piling on pressure. Icardi and Perisic swarmed Milan's box, and by the 12th minute, Donnarumma had already made two near-impossible saves—one, a leaping fingertip denial of Candreva's volley. The stadium buzzed. Milan, however, were struggling to get rhythm.
By the 23rd minute, Inter struck. A floated ball from Brozović found Icardi unmarked at the back post. 1–0.
"WHERE'S THE MARKING?!" Montella barked on the sidelines.
Milan stayed quiet, focused.
Then, in the 31st minute, chaos.
Milan picked up the ball just past the halfway line. Three defenders ahead. He twisted past one with a roll-and-go, nutmegged the second, and shrugged off the third with a body feint. Nearing the box, he let it fly from 42 yards. The ball rocketed, swerved—and dipped under the bar.
GOOOOOOOAL!
The stadium exploded. Fans screamed, jumped, cried. Twitter exploded.
> "HE'S ONLY 16?!?! 😳🔥 #Milan72 #DerbyMadness"
"That's a Puskas goal. No debate."
Halftime. 1–1.
---
Second Half.
Inter came out furious. In the 49th, a cutback from Perisic found Vecino, who buried it. 2–1 Inter.
Then came the scuffle.
Milan was hacked down hard by Skriniar after a mazy run down the left. He jumped up, shoved Skriniar.
"You scared I'll cook you again?" Milan snapped.
Biglia rushed in. "Back off, kid!"
Kessié intervened, pushing Biglia. Benches cleared. Yellow cards all around.
The tension only fueled Milan.
In the 63rd, he received the ball inside his half. Fans held their breath.
He exploded forward, dancing between two midfielders, dragging the ball with the outside of his boot past Gagliardini. One touch, two, three—he hit the edge of the box, dropped his shoulder, left Miranda spinning—and BANG!
Another long-range rocket.
2–2.
The bench erupted.
> "Are you seeing this kid?!" - Thierry Henry on commentary.
Inter struck again in the 70th with a corner headed in by Miranda. 3–2.
Montella made changes. Cutrone came on, Calabria off.
In the 78th, Milan whipped in a ball from the right after embarrassing Nagatomo with a drag-back and rainbow flick. Suso met it with a volley.
3–3.
San Siro shook.
---
Extra Time.
Both teams looked drained. But Milan wasn't done.
He dropped into midfield, collected the ball from Locatelli, turned, beat two men—and this time surged down the left. A sea of blue ahead, but he glided through, like water. Into the box, he faked a shot, sat Handanović down—and squared it to Cutrone...
Blocked!
Groans everywhere.
95th minute.
One last chance.
Milan had the ball again in midfield. He skipped past his marker, turned, and from 40 yards again... let it fly.
GOAAAAAL! HAT-TRICK HERO!
4–3.
The stadium lost its mind.
Fights broke out near the sideline. Inter players shoved Milan. Bonucci pulled him back. "Let the scoreboard do the talking."
Montella fell to his knees. Donnarumma sprinted the full field to hug Milan.
And Milan? He ended the night with a match ball in his arm, cameras flashing. The name Milan Martinez Villa was now etched in derby history.
---
Press flooded the tunnel.
"Milan, was that the greatest match of your career?"
"It's just the beginning," he replied calmly.
"You were called overrated before the match. Any response?"
"I don't talk. I play."
A reporter chimed in, "Where do you see yourself in five years?"
Milan smiled. "Top of the world."
---
Social media exploded:
@BenzemaOfficial: "This kid's mentality is outrageous."
@RossoneriOfficial: "The Derby belongs to Milan Martinez Villa."
@SkySports: "17-year-old wonderkid drops 3G/1A in chaotic Derby win."
Final Score: AC Milan 4 – 3 Inter
Goals: Milan (31', 63', 95'), Suso (78')
Assists: Milan (1), Cutrone (1)
Shots: Milan – 6 (4 on target)
Dribbles Completed: 12
Fouls Suffered: 5
Match Rating: ★9.9/10
Social media crowned him "San Siro's Prodigy."
And the world? They just saw the beginning of something legendary.