[South Korea drops into a back three, pushing the full-backs into midfield. Is this a strategy to break free from Riquelme's control of the game?]
[Exactly. Coach Park has played his hand. He's placed Ho-young up front and reinforced the midfield. Meanwhile, the defense is now packed tightly in the box. The plan is to defend with numbers and distribute the ball not through long passes, but by exploiting the numerical advantage in midfield.]
[It brings to mind Eusébio's Portugal, doesn't it? It's clear that Coach Park is putting his faith in Ho-young's feet. But of course, Riquelme won't just sit back and let that happen.]
[Which is why Ho-young's performance becomes even more important.]
It was both a gamble and a direct confrontation.
South Korea had already exhausted too much stamina in the quarterfinals.
As time passed, the disadvantage only grew.
If they were going to turn the tide, this was the last chance.
They were already trailing 2-0.
Even if they conceded more, they needed to create a platform for a comeback.
Escaping the swamp that Riquelme had built was the top priority.
Ho-young stopped and opened his eyes wide.
He broadened his field of vision.
You can only see if you actually try to look.
Just for a moment.
He caught sight of Argentina's constantly shifting shape.
Their coach had taken off right-back Zabaleta and brought on centre-back Fazio.
'They're compacting the space and dropping the third line. A customized tactic anticipating a final push. Long passes and wide areas are exposed.'
Now was the time to think.
Only through thinking could he understand and shift the flow of the game.
If the opponent responds, then you counter with even more creative play.
It wasn't easy, but Ho-young was the kind of player who could attempt it.
The one who had absorbed the talents of countless geniuses.
And from him, a breeze began to blow.
Argentina was doing everything it could to prevent Ho-young's solo performance.
Coach Batista had instructed his players to minimize space in anticipation of Ho-young's speed, and they followed his directions.
That was Argentina's strategy against a one-man team.
And it was Riquelme who coordinated it all.
That was when the suffocating chess match began.
Tap. Thud!
[Ho-young finally gets on the ball again! There was one dangerous moment, but our players have managed to push past the halfway line!]
With possession already down to 32%, just crossing the halfway line was a triumph for Korea.
One chance.
If they failed, the chance of a comeback would vanish.
Momentum began to gather.
Lee Geun-ho, Lee Chung-yong, Ki Sung-yueng, and Park Ju-young hovered around Ho-young, looking for position.
Sometimes, they lured defenders away by occupying threatening spaces.
Even the full-backs pushed higher up to open new attacking paths.
All-out attack.
However.
'Is this your final attack, kid?'
Everything was already in Riquelme's radar.
The intention was good, but unfortunately, Argentina's players weren't so easy to fool.
They adapted to every change with solid responses and brushed aside Korea's traps with ease.
Riquelme narrowed his eyes.
'If we press high in the third line and win the ball, their momentum will collapse.'
It seemed this was the limit of Ho-young's ability.
'He's not yet capable of carrying the team.'
A cold assessment.
Riquelme had hoped for something more from Ho-young, but swallowed his disappointment.
Then.
Tap, tap, ta-dap.
"...Hmm?"
Ho-young's passes and dribbles began to pick up speed, and the tempo of the match started to accelerate rapidly.
After Korea strengthened the midfield, Ho-young had touched the ball a few more times, and his feel for the ball was returning. His movement was improving as well.
Positioned just behind the forwards, Ho-young steadily advanced while dribbling.
This was no ordinary breeze.
Like a growing typhoon, he suddenly loomed large, threatening Argentina's backline.
At the center of it all stood Ho-young.
Like the calm eye of a storm, he quietly fulfilled his role and built up the attack.
"What are you doing? Fill the space!"
The moment Riquelme's shout echoed, Mascherano threw himself at Ho-young with aggressive physicality.
'It's fine.'
Shaking off fear, Ho-young faced Mascherano head-on with the determination to go down fighting.
He had already anticipated Mascherano's marking and escaped his zone with a half-beat faster dribble.
But then, a rough challenge from Mascherano made him lose his balance slightly.
Thud!
He staggered, but Ho-young's body wasn't one to fall that easily.
Instead of retreating, he absorbed the contact, used his hand to brace himself, and immediately resumed his dribble.
Tap!
It was footwork so good, it was hard to believe even when seen with one's own eyes.
[Ho-young! He beats one! He needs to be careful of Fernando Gago closing in!]
Gago came in for the tackle, but it was no use.
Ho-young had already spun half a turn.
"Ugh!"
Executing a Marseille Turn, Ho-young shrugged off Gago and continued his dribble without delay.
Taak!
[Ho-young! A Marseille Turn and now he bursts forward!]
[Ho-young! Ho-young! He's on the move! How far will he go?!]
The stadium erupted into a frenzy.
Fans who had been sitting down rose to their feet, erupting in cheers.
All eyes were on the young boy performing this phenomenal play—Ho-young.
At that moment, Riquelme's voice thundered across the pitch.
"Close him down!"
Immediately, Garay moved to block Ho-young's path.
He lowered his center of gravity and got into position for a calculated defense.
He planned to stall for time like before.
But Ho-young had already learned from that prior encounter.
He knew that wasting even 0.1 seconds would kill the opportunity.
So he didn't hesitate.
He made quick foot movements and changed direction in an instant.
It was a move that put immense strain on the knees and one he rarely used, but today he was ready to put everything on the line.
[Ho-young breaks past Garay like a mannequin! Garay flinches!]
At that moment.
Tap, tap, tap.
Ho-young's feet moved in a zigzag pattern, and in the blink of an eye, he broke free of Garay's zone completely.
Goosebumps rose on Garay's skin as he watched Ho-young's back retreating.
Total domination.
But it didn't end there.
Planting strength into his knees, Ho-young pushed off the ground explosively, springing forward like a loaded spring.
It was a dynamic motion that made onlookers gasp.
Push and run.
Taaak!
He didn't lose focus for a second.
He kept the ball's momentum alive while maintaining control.
And all of this happened in just three seconds.
Argentina's rock-solid defense tried to stop him, but their bodies couldn't keep up with their minds.
Eventually, they allowed Ho-young into the box.
A heavy silence fell over the pitch like a breath held in suspense.
Then a lightning-like voice cracked through the commentary booth.
[Will he shoot?!]
[But Fazio is right next to him!]
Before the commentary could even finish, Fazio, playing as a right-back, lunged in.
Standing 195 cm tall, his frame was heavy and slow, but he managed to cut off the right-side shooting angle just in time.
Since Ho-young was known to be right-footed, this was a reasonable defensive move.
But it was Ho-young's left foot that moved.
Months ago, he had acquired the ambidexterity talent from Pedro, and now his left foot had become quite accurate.
And powerful.
Boom!
[Ho-young, shoots from right in front of goal!]
A surprise shot.
With the massive Fazio partially obscuring his view, goalkeeper Romero reacted a beat too late.
Ho-young's shot had come early and fast, and his finishing was top class.
There was no way the net wouldn't ripple in this perfect situation.
Thud!
[Goal!!! Ho-young scores!! A wonder goal from Ho-young! It's in!!]
Pandemonium broke out.
Even the scouts from several clubs, who had been watching discreetly under their caps, were now frantically taking notes.
In the first half, Messi had sent shivers down their spines with his genius. Now, it was Ho-young doing the same.
And then something even more astonishing happened.
Ho-young's voice echoed across the field.
"It's not over yet!"
His face flushed red, Ho-young clutched the ball and shouted, his voice hoarse.
It was a roar that burst forth, clearing away all the frustration that had built up inside.
[Yes! Exactly! It's not over yet!]
[That's it. The belief that they can still win. The fighting spirit must never die. Truly inspiring.]
Gulp.
The commentators swallowed hard.
The clock read 92 minutes.
Only one minute remained, but the tension was still sky-high.
The match resumed.
Beeeep—
[Lionel Messi passes to Riquelme, restarting the match.]
[And the players are charging in!]
[Riquelme with a back pass to Gago!]
[Ah, and now the ball goes back to Romero. There's no time left.]
The last minute. No, only 40 seconds remained.
All the Korean players rushed forward to press and win the ball, but nothing came of it.
Argentina remained composed until the very end.
Finally.
Beeeeep—
"Ahh..."
The referee's whistle signaled full-time.
2-1.
Argentina had been dominant, but the final score showed only a one-goal margin.
A bitter defeat.
"Ahhhh..."
Ho-young's legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.
Curled up on the pitch, he wept for a long time.
The finish line had been so close...
If only there had been more time, he might have done it...
He couldn't shake the disappointment and frustration.
It was not an easy defeat for him to bear.
Then, someone approached.
Tap, tap.
A man patted Ho-young on the back and said,
"Well done. That was a great game."
It was Riquelme.
With a kind expression, he added,
"Don't blame yourself too much. You did well. This defeat will become a great asset in your football journey."
It was a cliché, but his words were sincere.
Though no defeat is better than a win, Riquelme believed that some losses could still bring value.
Ho-young thanked him for the precious advice.
Then Riquelme peeled off his shirt.
"Let's swap jerseys. You can trade with Leo anytime."
True.
There would be plenty more chances to face Lionel Messi, but not Riquelme.
He was planning to leave Spain at the end of the year and return home, so today could very well be their last match together.
It was a moment to treasure.
Ho-young also took off his shirt and handed it over in return.
"Thank you. I learned a lot today."
"Then that's an honor for me. From now on, I'll be cheering you on from afar. Though not quite as much as Leo, of course. Haha!"
The last classic playmaker, Riquelme.
With that light joke, he turned and walked away.
It was the moment the legacy of the classic playmaker passed to Ho-young.
Ho-young swallowed his tears.
And in his now-clear vision, welcome notifications appeared.
[Burning Fighting Spirit (A+2) ↑]
[Unyielding Boldness (A+)]
Mental growth.
Was it a reward for overcoming fear?
His Fighting Spirit had increased, and a rare talent, "Unyielding Boldness," had manifested.
And that wasn't all.
[Your current talent slots are full. Elastic Muscles of the Black Panther (13 days) is waiting in queue.]
[In 13 days, choose the talent you want to acquire.]
-Extraordinary Ball Keeping (S+)
Unparalleled Creativity (S+)
-Dominant Free Kick (S-)
-(More...)
He had successfully pre-empted Riquelme's Miraculous Ball Keeping (S+).
And right after, acquired Messi's "Fantastic Positioning (A+3)" as well.
'This season is going to be insanely busy.'
When he faced Messi in La Liga, that's when he could begin collecting even more of his top-tier talents.
The loss today was painful, but the future mattered more.
'I'll win next time. No matter what.'
Ho-young clenched his fists tightly.
The emotions swelling inside him made his head burn.
He had never felt this way before.
A thought crossed his mind.
If Messi were in his shoes, could he have led South Korea to the final?
With that thought still lingering, Ho-young pushed off his knees and stood up.
He was angry, but that only fueled him further.
Shaking off the disappointment, he walked off the field, greeted by thunderous applause from the crowd in recognition of his effort.
[Our players showed us so much today. The potential that we can do it next time. Isn't that enough?]
[It's more than enough. They've shown everything. Especially Ho-young's final shot. His genius has now been seen clearly by fans all over the world. But I'm a bit worried about the toll on his body. He's still young, so his club will need to manage him carefully.]
And then.
As Ho-young walked slowly off the pitch, Lionel Messi remained frozen in place, unable to take his eyes off him.
The match was over, but Messi was still caught in the heat of that moment.
'Ho-young.'
Three years?
No, definitely this year.
He was certain they would face each other in the league.
This match had become a clear source of motivation to keep pushing forward without rest.
The next day.
The Real Madrid front office was in chaos from the early morning.
A mix of unexpected good news and bad news had arrived.
Inside the president's office at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Pérez had a complicated expression.
The good news was that Manchester City, recently acquired by Middle Eastern oil tycoon Mansour, had made a transfer offer.
They had expressed interest in stars like Casillas, Ramos, Sneijder, Robben, Raúl, and van Nistelrooy.
But their strongest interest was in two young players.
Ho-young and Robinho.
Currently ranked 2nd and 3rd in the Olympic scoring chart.
And fatefully, the two were set to face off in the third-place match.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)