The only legend in football history who could truly stand alongside Pelé.
Diego Maradona.
Even those who know little about football recognize the name of this 165-centimeter man.
His talent blossomed at a young age, leading Argentina to a Youth World Cup title and building an extraordinary career while shining at Barcelona.
But even he could not escape injury.
In 1983, he suffered a brutal tackle from Andoni Goikoetxea of Athletic Bilbao, known as the "Butcher," which shattered his ankle.
It was from that moment that Maradona fell into drug addiction.
He had reached the peak of his ability, only to plunge into the depths.
His life was filled with turmoil.
Yet after six months of recovery, he returned and began a second football life at Italian giants SSC Napoli.
At the same time, he led Argentina to a World Cup title and guided Napoli to victory in the UEFA Cup, the predecessor of the Europa League.
Of course, he caused countless problems due to repeated tax evasion, but no one could criticize his footballing ability.
Despite all the controversies, he remained an idol to countless players.
Ho-young was one of them.
"It is an honor to meet you."
"Haha. I hope that is true."
"Of course. I have been waiting for this moment for a long time."
"Many people say that. But hearing it from you feels different."
"I feel the same."
On the outside, he looked like a friendly neighborhood uncle, but simply standing before him carried immense pressure.
Ho-young shook his hand.
Maradona continued.
"Then I look forward to a great match. And later, let's have a beer."
"Call me anytime. I am still underage, but if it is drinking with you, even the police might overlook it."
"Haha. Of course."
After the brief meeting, Ho-young returned to his warm-up.
Yet Maradona's presence lingered in his mind.
The memory of his past performances was vivid.
The most unforgettable was the 60-meter run past six defenders.
At the 1986 Mexico World Cup, Maradona ran 60 meters, dribbling past six England players before scoring. It was considered the greatest performance in history.
That was how he earned the title of the God of Football.
It seemed that was why such a condition existed within Maradona's talents.
A 60-meter run.
An extremely demanding requirement.
And it did not end there.
Win the UEFA Europa League.
Maradona had lifted the UEFA Cup trophy with Napoli, a team that had been considered mid-table at best.
Although the Europa League is regarded as secondary to the Champions League in prestige and difficulty, in some ways that made the condition even more challenging.
It meant joining a team that competed in the Europa League rather than the Champions League.
Chelsea, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich, clubs Ho-young was considering, all competed in the Champions League.
To play in the Europa League, he would need to choose an upper mid-table side such as Liverpool or Manchester City.
He needed to think carefully.
There was no doubt Maradona's talents were extraordinary.
Perhaps they were even greater than those of Alfredo Di Stéfano.
But he could not change teams for that reason alone.
Manchester City was certainly tempting, but he needed to weigh every offer carefully.
He would only know after negotiations. Which club truly needed him?
Tweet.
[The match has begun. Argentina on the left, Korea on the right.]
Argentina lined up in an attacking 4-3-3 formation.
Agüero, Messi, and Milito formed the front three, showcasing clinical attacking football.
The midfield was formidable as well.
Javier Pastore orchestrated counters with dazzling technique and incisive passes.
Fernando Gago handled the defensive duties.
Jonás Gutiérrez dominated the midfield with stamina and work rate.
The back line of Rodríguez, Demichelis, Otamendi, and Burdisso formed an experienced defensive unit.
Aside from the attack, it was largely a rotated side, but each player was a regular at his club.
[They must not relax just because Argentina are fielding rotated players. Objectively, this squad is stronger than the first team of an average European nation.]
[Indeed. Korea have also rotated, so this will not be easy. Key players from the first two matches are resting. Kang Nam-il, Ahn Jung-hwan, and Lee Yoon-jae have come in.]
In truth, the result did not matter much.
That was why both teams rotated.
But for Ho-young and Messi, this match carried special meaning.
[This is a battle for the Golden Boot and possibly the Golden Ball. For Lionel Messi in particular, this is crucial.]
Messi's desire for the Ballon d'Or was intense.
He should have won it at least once, but each time it slipped away to Ronaldo. Now it was slipping toward Ho-young.
He was desperate.
Although Ho-young had won the Champions League and La Liga, if Messi led Argentina to a World Cup title, the Ballon d'Or could still be his.
It was not over.
Everything could still change.
That was why Argentina attacked fiercely from the opening whistle.
"Messi, push higher. I will slip it wide."
"Pass here."
Pastore and Gutiérrez drove the ball centrally, while Milito and Agüero stretched Korea's defense wide, pulling them out of the penalty area.
The conditions for Messi's goal were being created step by step.
Within 20 minutes, he found his chance.
[Korea must be careful. When Messi receives the ball, they must double their focus. They need constant tension to react quickly.]
[Messi surges toward Gutiérrez's chipped pass.]
A lofted pass into the box.
Messi burst forward to receive it.
With exquisite control and dribbling, he bypassed Kim Min-soo and Ki Dong-jin before calmly finishing.
Lee Yoon-jae could not even move a finger.
Thud.
Messi's opener.
Korea fell silent after conceding in the 20th minute.
[Messi now has four goals, level with Ho-young.]
[Perhaps Korea could have concentrated more. But Messi's movement was exceptional.]
The defenders had done their best.
They simply could not track his movement.
Ki Dong-jin and Kim Min-soo sighed.
It was only the 20th minute, yet their resolve wavered.
If they tried to use physicality, he slipped away like a mouse. If they attempted a foul, he evaded effortlessly.
Messi was a monster.
How could they stop him?
But they had forgotten one thing.
There was a player on their team who was even more formidable.
Around the 40th minute.
The defensive gaps were widening.
Ho-young widened his vision.
The pitch felt narrow.
Moses Mabhida Stadium was only 100 meters wide, the minimum for international standards.
The spaces were tight.
Individual defending and organization were not exceptional, but exploiting those gaps required precision timing.
Finding the perfect moment to break through was crucial.
And then.
He saw it.
As time passed, Ho-young's eyes sharpened.
Time was on his side.
The more he felt the rhythm of the match, the clearer the spaces became.
Gaps invisible to others connected into a pathway before him.
A strange sensation.
And that was when Argentina's vulnerability revealed itself.
"Here."
During Korea's buildup, Kim Min-soo and Ki Sung-yueng exchanged passes as Ho-young called out.
Moving between the lines near the halfway line, he suddenly backpedaled sharply, as if he had spotted something.
Pastore, marking him, was startled.
But he quickly refocused and followed.
He is dropping to receive.
Maradona had instructed him never to take his eyes off Ho-young.
Even Javier Mascherano could not stop him. Stick to him like a shadow, and if he receives, grab his shirt.
Pastore was not a natural defender, but he followed orders.
One second was enough.
Then Ki Sung-yueng's pass arrived.
Tap.
Ho-young, with his back to goal, let the ball run between Pastore's legs without touching it.
A nutmeg.
But Pastore had anticipated it.
He had studied Ho-young's movements.
He spun left to grab his shirt.
But Ho-young was gone.
He had turned the other way.
Pastore was stunned.
Argentina's players were clustered to the right, so he had expected Ho-young to go left.
That assumption became his mistake.
Ho-young surged forward.
Superior anticipation. Judgment. Vision. Psychological awareness.
The dribble was flawless.
Twenty meters covered.
Gutiérrez stepped up.
Maradona had instructed him as well.
If Messi scores, Ho-young will respond. When Pastore fails, grab his shirt.
Gutiérrez reached out.
But two perfect touches.
[Ho-young with a flip-flap.]
[Brilliant escape from pressure.]
He twisted free instantly.
Thirty meters.
Five defenders remained.
The crowd roared as he neared the box.
Rodríguez lunged and failed.
Otamendi stretched but found only air.
Body feint. Direction change.
Four beaten.
He reached the edge of the box.
[Gago from behind. Careful.]
Gago slid in with his left foot, as he always did.
Ho-young had anticipated it.
He evaded.
[Ho-young breaks through.]
Five beaten.
It felt as if defenders parted before him.
One final obstacle.
[Sergio Romero rushes out.]
Futile.
With explosive acceleration, Ho-young rounded Romero and struck into the empty net.
Defenders scrambled, but the net was already shaking.
All within ten seconds.
Sixty-five meters.
Maradona's performance, perfectly recreated.
Perhaps even more astonishing.
Maradona applauded, unaware his face filled the screen.
"My God."
This was not Messi's nimble phantom dribble.
Argentina's compact spacing would have caused collisions.
But Ho-young had identified the optimal route and predicted spatial shifts in advance.
Growth.
Not just technically, but mentally as well.
Then the notifications appeared.
[Penetrating Prediction (S+2)↑]
[Sharp Judgment (S+2)↑]
[Peerless Football Sense (SS+3)↑]
[Artistic Creativity (S-)]
Growth and awakening.
An S grade from the start meant his mental attributes had truly evolved.
He felt it.
Confidence surged.
This World Cup felt like the foundation to surpass his limits.
The rest of the match grew dull as Argentina turned defensive.
Around the 65th minute, Ho-young scored a powerful long-range strike to take the lead.
Later, substitute Higuaín equalized, and the match ended 2-2.
Korea advanced as Group B runners-up and would face Group A winners Mexico in the round of 16.
In the stands.
If he keeps this up, the Golden Ball is practically secured.
Lucci rose, applauding.
Buzz.
His phone vibrated urgently.
An unknown number.
At this hour, it could only mean one thing.
He cleared his throat and answered, expecting a club president or sporting director pursuing Ho-young.
But.
This is Mansour.
The caller was far beyond his expectations.
(To be continued.)