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Son Jinho’s additional goal coincided with the end of the first half, leading into halftime.

“…”

“Puta Madre.”

A chill silence filled the locker room of Argentina, which had surrendered two goals to England.

As the players, engulfed in a sense of defeat, hung their heads in dejection…

“My son Thiago saw the news in Argentina.”

Lionel Messi spoke, looking at his fellow players from where he sat.

“It was news saying that they no longer need me in the Albiceleste.”

In a calm voice, Messi began to share a story he had kept hidden in his heart.

“The moment I saw my son’s sad expression, a swarm of thoughts flooded my mind. Is it right for me to retire like this? Should I reverse my retirement decision now? While I was mulling over it, I received letters from the kids.”

All eyes in the locker room turned towards Messi.

“As I read the letters from the kids who see me as a hero, I became convinced that I couldn’t give up like this.”

In the now-quiet locker room, only Lionel Messi’s voice echoed.

“Even if there’s a five-goal difference, as long as I’m wearing this sky blue and white mixed uniform, I will not give up.”

“I will stand up, stand up, and once again stand up to fight.”

“So don’t you all give up. It’s only a two-goal difference! For all the Argentines who couldn’t come here due to difficult everyday life and are watching the game and cheering for us from our homeland, let’s bring the victory cup back to Argentina today.”

The moment Messi finished his speech.

“Vamos──!!!!”

The cheers of the Argentine players erupted.

***

Halftime ended, and the second half began.

Fueled by Messi’s speech, Argentina launched an offensive to score a consolation goal, but reality was harsh.

The game was no different than the first half.

[Henderson intercepts Banega’s pass, Henderson sends it straight to Jinho! Jinho strikes straight away!]

Riding the momentum, England aggressively pressured Argentina early in the second half, relentlessly battering them in their own territory.

[Jinho’s sharp long-range shot threatens Argentina’s goal!!]

[The Argentine fans let out a sigh of relief. The game nearly ended like this.]

But England failed to score an additional goal.

Slowly, the flow of the game began to shift towards Argentina.

Thirty minutes into the second half.

As the players’ stamina started to wane…

[Argentina goes on the attack again. They have not given up yet!]

[Argentina is gradually starting to take control of the game.]

Argentina’s counterattack had begun.

Mascherano intercepted Henderson’s pass and relayed it to Lionel Messi.

[On the flank, Lionel Messi receives the ball, driving inward and he shoots!]

[Chris Smalling’s robust defense! Messi’s shot deflects and goes out of play!]

[It seems Messi’s shot touched Smalling’s arm.]

[Argentina appeals for a handball. The assistant referee and the VAR official converse, and the referee walks over to check VAR.]

Lionel Messi’s shot only touched Chris Smalling’s hand and deflected.

[It’s been awarded! A penalty kick for Argentina!!]

After reviewing the VAR, the referee declared a penalty kick.

[An opportunity for Lionel Messi!]

Lionel Messi readied himself for the penalty kick with a determined expression.

As the referee’s whistle blew, Lionel Messi slowly approached the ball.

[Oh! Messi! It’s in! In the moment Argentina needed him, Lionel Messi once again rescues Argentina from despair!]

In the 77th minute, Messi perfectly outwitted Jordan Pickford and successfully converted the penalty.

As he patted the patch on his chest, Messi brought hope to the Argentine supporters.

[Lionel Messi rekindles the dying spark of hope!! 2-1, Argentina’s World Cup is still not over!]

***

[(SPOLive) 2018 Russia World Cup Final. England 2:1 Argentina.]

└Let’s go Argentina!

└Me God! Me God! Me God! Me God!

└Why the heck are these guys cheering for Messi?

└Please, if you’re Korean, let’s cheer for Son Jinho.

└Yeah, I’m not cheering for someone who gave up his nationality just to win the World Cup^^.

└What do you mean ‘gave up’? They chased him away.

└For real, as the Asian Argentina? They never admit their mistakes until the end.

└Yeah, we chased Son Jinho away before Argentina did! Argentina is the South America of Korea!

└Is that something to be proud of?

└If Son Jinho were here, would we have made it to the finals?

└I think we would’ve been sorted out by France already.

– Jinho, pass.

– Marcus Rashford’s long-range shot!

– Mascherano blocks it.

└Ahhh….. this is so frustrating.

└As expected, the erasing master is on fire.

└Did these guys put their lives on the line in the last game? Why is it so intense?

└It’s the finals, you know.

└Oh, I see.

– Argentina’s counterattack.

– Ángel Di María, cross!

– Cristian Pavón, header.

– Jordan Pickford, saves!

– Second ball, Lionel Messi!

– Lionel Messi, goal to equalize in the 78th minute!

└What are the England defenders doing?

└Since the France match, these guys have become an automatic door.

└Whether it’s an automatic door or not, this final is extremely exciting haha.

└For real, this is one of the top finals in history.

***

After allowing the consolation goal, just two minutes later, they conceded the equalizer.

Unlike the Argentine stands, a chill silence began to spread among the English supporters.

“It’s okay! We just need one more goal!”

I gestured for the crowd to continue cheering, starting to clap to encourage the players.

The cheers from the England fans gradually echoed in the stadium.

With the game back at square one, England and Argentina clashed fiercely.

I saw Messi receiving a pass from Ángel Di María.

At that moment, I slid in to tackle, blocking Argentina’s attack.

Messi, losing balance from the tackle, fell to the ground, but the referee, seeing that I only touched the ball, did not call a foul.

As I stood up, I immediately sent a through pass towards Rashford, who was making a run.

Marcus Rashford’s shot shook Argentina’s net.

As the England players celebrated, I extended my hand towards Lionel Messi, who lay on the ground brushing his face with his right hand.

“I think we won with this goal, right?”

“Well, we’ll have to see till the end.”

As Messi grasped my hand and stood up, I asked…

“Do you plan to give up?”

“Not at all.”

I might be considered crazy for this, but Messi’s answer made me smile.

Because at this very moment, giving everything and doing my best was incredibly enjoyable.

***

[Jinho’s beautiful pass plunges Argentina into despair! 3-2. England starts to pull ahead! The joy from Argentina’s equalizer doesn’t last long!]

[Right now, two number 10s are painting the pitch with their colors. I hope this game never ends.]

[But the end of the match is approaching. Southgate is preparing to substitute. Harry Maguire and Gary Cahill are warming up.]

[Argentina’s attack, and there isn’t much time left in the game.]

[Messi breaks through Jinho! He enters the penalty box! Messi!!!]

[Oh, God!! What we couldn’t have imagined is happening right before our eyes! Lionel Messi’s hat-trick! Argentina rises again from despair!! Lionel Messi! The god of Argentina with millions’ names once again rescues his nation!]

***

“Phew….”

Son Jinho sighed as he looked at the swaying net of England’s goal.

Just after scoring, they conceded yet again, and Son Jinho and the English players felt their legs grow heavy.

Time in the game raced on, and suddenly we were approaching the end of added time.

The players were gasping for air, and their stamina was nearing its breaking point.

As both team coaches began preparing for extra time…

Stones intercepts a dribble from Lo Celso, starting England’s last counterattack.

A deflected ball off Stones’ legs headed towards Harry Kane, and Son Jinho sprinted towards Argentina’s side.

Seeing Son Jinho charging into Argentina’s zone, Harry Kane immediately attempted a pass.

As Kane’s pass connected with Son Jinho, the England fans rose to their feet.

[Jinho is running into Argentina’s territory!]

In the Luzhniki Stadium, filled with 80,000 fans, a heavy silence fell as if everyone had forgotten to breathe.

[All the hopes of the visiting England fans are directed towards him.]

The crowd’s focus shifted to Son Jinho.

[Rojo is blocking Jinho.]

Rojo approached to block Son Jinho.

He steadied his breath.

His stamina had already reached its limit.

But he pushed himself, pouring strength into his legs, and continued to run.

[He stumbled after getting caught by Rojo’s leg but gets back up! He hasn’t given up yet!]

Simultaneously as he dodged Rojo, he saw Franco Armani, the goalkeeper, with a stern expression.

[He has bypassed the goalkeeper too!]

With a feint, Son Jinho maneuvered around the goalkeeper.

[Jinho!]

Even as he stumbled with his legs giving way during the process, he retained his focus and brought his foot to the ball.

The ball slowly rolled and shook Argentina’s net.

[Goooooal! A boy from Asia, often called the backwater of football, announces his name to the world once more right here in Moscow!!]

[He did it! Jinho Son, defeating Lionel Messi’s Argentina, opens the door to a new era!!]

The moment Son Jinho’s shot found the back of Argentina’s net,

“Football’s! Coming Home!!!!”

The stadium shook with excitement from the elated crowd.

***

The final match concluded with England’s victory, crowning the World Cup champions.

I sat on the ground, dazed, and decided to approach the tearful Messi to console him. The title of four consecutive runner-ups could easily break one’s spirit.

“…?”

As if sensing my presence, Lionel Messi’s gaze turned towards me and at that moment, I wondered if he might declare his retirement again.

“Your World Cup trophy was awesome.”

I, having decided to sacrifice myself for the world of football, opened my mouth with a bright smile.

Startled by the unexpected compliment, Lionel Messi wore a blank expression.

After finishing my words quickly, I made my exit.

I might have incurred Messi’s displeasure with this comment.

But…

It’s fine.

I’m used to playing the villain.

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