In the World Cup scoring charts, Ho-young was leading outright with six goals, with Cristiano Ronaldo close behind on five.
The leading candidate for the Golden Ball was Ho-young.
It was because he had produced a performance that might never be seen again.
Even days after the match, the reactions showed no sign of cooling down.
[Ho-young's 65-meter solo run, reactions from netizens around the world]
└ Damn it. (Japan)
└ What the hell. (China)
└ Thank you for letting me witness a play like that before I die. But the Ballon d'Or still belongs to Cristiano Ronaldo. (Portugal)
└ He has already surpassed Messi and even Maradona. How far will he grow? Could he even surpass Pelé? (Brazil)
└ For heaven's sake. Please come to Manchester. If he joins Manchester, I'll take my trousers off in the square and play the guitar with my XX. (England)
└ Are Ho-young and Usain Bolt half-brothers by any chance? (Uruguay)
└ This proves that kimchi is a superfood. We should start importing it immediately. (Sweden)
└ The only way we beat South Korea in the Round of 16 is to send a cartel to South Africa. Drugs, pistols, whatever. We need something certain. (Mexico)
└ Mexico, see you in four years. (Chile)
As time passed, the number of posts praising Ho-young grew exponentially.
The dominant opinion was that Mexico had little chance of defeating Korea.
In truth, most Mexican fans shared a similar view.
The same went for head coach Javier Aguirre.
As match day approached, his insides felt like they were burning.
Even on June 24, two days before the match, he had yet to finalize his tactics.
"At least we avoided Argentina."
"Yes, that's something to be grateful for."
Assistant coach Miguel nodded but scratched his head.
"It's still a thorny path either way."
"This is absurd."
Aguirre, who had managed Atlético Madrid until 2009, had taken charge of the Mexican national team last year.
With a record of 6 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses after his appointment, he had guided Mexico to the World Cup and was hailed as a hero.
However, being drawn in the same group as England and Uruguay led foreign media to predict they would fail to reach the Round of 16.
It was never going to be easy.
Mexico were strong at high altitude and had excellent mobility, but England remained powerful and Uruguay were no pushovers.
Even so, Aguirre had used unconventional tactics at the right moments and led the team into the Round of 16.
Their next opponent was Korea.
In the past, that would have been cause for celebration.
But this Korean side was now rated stronger than Uruguay.
All because of Ho-young.
"To think this day would come."
Who would have imagined that Mexico, a powerhouse of Central America, would fear an Asian team?
This is driving me insane.
It felt like a cruel twist of fate.
When he managed Atlético Madrid, he had suffered repeatedly at the hands of Real Madrid. The mere thought of it still made his teeth grind.
But this match was also an opportunity.
Defeating Ho-young with a strategic masterstroke might be the greatest achievement a manager of this era could claim.
Aguirre was ambitious.
Just as they had fought well against England, he believed that pressing forward with unconventional tactics might give them a chance.
However.
"Stopping Ho-young is impossible from the start."
"I agree. Even if Beckenbauer came back, it would be impossible."
"Exactly. If we are doomed either way, then there's only one option."
They were standing at the edge of a cliff.
There was no turning back.
All that remained was to move forward.
Having made his decision, Aguirre spoke firmly.
"Call the players in."
Saturday, June 26.
Port Elizabeth, at the southern tip of South Africa.
The 42,000-seat Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium would host the first Round of 16 match.
At 15:50 local time, the players of Mexico in green kits and Korea in red walked out side by side.
Cheers filled the stadium, along with the blaring sound of vuvuzelas.
The atmosphere intensified.
As Heo Sung-soo and Javier Aguirre shook hands, there was a fierce battle of nerves between them.
It was no different among the players.
Every handshake carried tension.
And as Ho-young extended his hand to a young man.
"Long time no see."
Tsk.
Vela gave a bitter smile.
[Carlos Vela]
[Possessed Talents: Remarkable Dribbling (S-), Lamborghini-Like Speed (A+3), Fearless Direct Runs (A+2), Clinical Finishing (A+2), (More...)]
(No talents available to acquire)
His talents have not changed much over the years.
The Mexican crown prince he had met at the U-17 World Cup in Peru.
Carlos Vela's abilities were little different from five years ago.
That spoke volumes about his current state.
He has not been in good form at Arsenal lately.
Even so, he remained a dangerous player for Korea.
His inclusion in the starting lineup reflected Aguirre's intention to exploit Korea's slower defensive line.
As expected, they came out with an attacking setup.
Mexico's forward line could stand up against anyone.
From Javier Hernández, known as Chicharito, to Giovani dos Santos and Andrés Guardado.
They were quick and clinical.
As soon as the match kicked off, Mexico launched wave after wave of attacks.
[Mexico set up in a 4-3-3, with a front three of Dos Santos, Hernández, and Vela pouring forward.]
[They are consistently targeting the space behind Korea's defense. Cho Yeon-hyung and Lee Jong-soo must stay alert.]
Positioned on the left wing, Vela cut inside repeatedly, targeting Cho Yeon-hyung, whose lack of pace was a weakness.
Lee Jong-soo, who had better speed, tried to cover, but danger loomed at any moment.
[Hernández pulls it back. Guardado receives it. Park Ji-seok closes him down.]
[No clear opening. Guardado recycles possession.]
[They keep attacking, but their style is cautious. Once they secure possession, they are determined not to give it away.]
Seven minutes into the first half.
Since taking control of the ball, Mexico had not relinquished it.
They played aggressively but avoided risky moves, circulating safe passes and probing for space.
They had no intention of creating situations where they could be dispossessed.
[They seem highly wary of Korea's counter-attacks.]
[Considering the explosive pace and finishing Ho-young displayed in the group stage, that is understandable. They are waiting for a clear opportunity.]
Gradually, more Mexican players joined the attack.
Full-backs Ricardo Osorio and Carlos Salcido pushed beyond the halfway line, overlapping aggressively.
Aside from the two centre-backs, everyone committed forward.
That was Aguirre's plan.
If they were hit on the counter, no number of defenders would stop him.
Ho-young on the break was beyond imagination.
There was no defensive scheme capable of containing him.
If stopping him was impossible, then committing numbers forward was the better option.
All they needed was one clear chance.
That was why Hernández had focused on finishing drills in the days leading up to the match.
[It seems Aguirre believes conceding is inevitable no matter what. So he is going toe to toe with Korea. The defenders must stay sharp.]
[As you said, Mexico's attacks are intensifying. Dos Santos and Vela are stretching and compressing the flanks, unsettling Korea's back line.]
It was a bold strategy.
If executed well, they could score first and seize control.
But that was only Aguirre's hope.
Ten minutes into the first half.
Aguirre noticed something alarming.
Ho-young, playing as the attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1, suddenly dropped deep.
He was not simply tracking back, he was anchoring himself deeper to help organize the defense.
Damn it.
Aguirre's face twisted.
The tactic he had meticulously prepared was unraveling.
A head-on battle only worked if the opponent accepted it.
But Ho-young had effectively abandoned the attack and reinforced the midfield.
The match began to take an unexpected turn.
[Torrado looks to the right. Dos Santos receives.]
[Ho-young closes him down.]
Tap.
"Damn it!"
Dos Santos nearly lost possession under pressure.
Juárez, positioned just behind, managed to retain the ball, but it was a warning sign.
[That's excellent from our players. Cover the spaces together like that.]
[With Ho-young dropping deeper, the defense looks much more solid.]
Ho-young's relentless work rate began to stifle Mexico.
The sense of impending danger gradually faded.
[This allows our midfielders to push up. Ki Sung-yueng and Park Ji-seok are pressing higher.]
[Park attempts an interception.]
[Just missed.]
His defensive contribution was having a clear impact.
Eventually.
Around the 13th minute, they forced Mexico out of the central midfield.
Korea's intense pressing continued.
Ho-young surged forward, gradually taking control of the midfield.
"Damn it."
"Switch it wide. We need support from the flanks."
Under mounting pressure, the Juárez, Torrado, and Guardado trio were forced to circulate the ball out wide.
"Osorio, close the gap. Come inside and receive."
Tap.
Right-back Osorio stepped into midfield to take the pass.
He immediately searched for an outlet.
But.
Touch.
"Ah!"
[Ho-young wins it off Osorio.]
He allowed no hesitation.
With explosive acceleration, he pressed and stripped Osorio of the ball.
It was about 40 meters from goal.
[Korea regain possession. Ho-young drives forward.]
Transition.
As if he had been waiting for this moment, Ho-young surged ahead.
Osorio tried to chase, but the gap widened.
Thirty meters.
"I'll stop him."
Whoosh.
"...?!"
Torrado lunged in to cover, but Ho-young had already spun the other way.
A sudden change of direction.
It was dizzying to watch.
Yet his expression remained calm as he drove toward the penalty area.
Twenty-five meters.
"Stop that lunatic."
"Take him down."
"He's coming. Focus."
Centre-back Rodríguez stepped up.
Realizing he had no other option, he raised his foot slightly, aiming for Ho-young's ankle.
It was a desperate choice.
Better that than face threats from a cartel back home.
With that resolve, he shifted his weight and swung his leg.
"Get lost."
But in that instant.
"Ugh."
Rodríguez's foot sliced through empty air.
He had been wrong-footed.
Ho-young had pulled the ball back slightly and cut to the right.
[Ho-young, only one defender left.]
[Márquez stretches out.]
Boom.
Márquez launched into a sliding tackle, but the ball was already on its way.
A quick, compact right-footed strike.
That was enough.
Thud.
[Gooooal. A thunderous long-range strike. Ho-young scores his seventh of the World Cup.]
[A devastating blow to Mexico. Brilliant.]
Before goalkeeper Óscar Pérez could extend his hand, the powerful shot tore into the net.
Everything Mexico had prepared collapsed in that moment.
"Ho."
Ho-young sprinted to the corner and leapt into the air.
A wonder goal in the Round of 16.
His celebration was only natural.
But instead of stopping there, he ran to the bench, grabbed a T-shirt, and held it up in front of the camera.
The stadium erupted.
[Is that Ho-young's family?]
[A celebration dedicated to the family who traveled all the way to South Africa. They must be so proud.]
The big screen displayed a printed family photo on the shirt.
He had scored many goals before, but this was his first celebration dedicated to his family.
He had wanted to do it on the biggest stage and had held back until now. The shirt Lucci prepared had arrived just the day before.
The atmosphere grew even hotter.
Korea's first ever away quarterfinal berth was beginning to feel real.
(To be continued.)