My dear departed grandmother spoke to me of the “babau“, that shadow-cloaked monster, the terror of all little ones.

When I first beheld Yashin, this is what I envisioned—a near-mythical creature with psionic powers, shrouded in shadow, with limbs almost unnaturally long, and a sly smile that bespoke of deep knowledge.

Above all, Yashin emanated an immense psychic presence, further amplified by Soviet propaganda that masterfully blended science with the occult. Yashin is a leader, commanding the defense, always in the right place at the right time, hypnotizing attackers with his calm demeanor. I am convinced that even in the tensest moments of a match, his heartbeat never exceeded 60 beats per minute. This is his greatest strength!