---

The day after Chris Smalling stirred things up by provoking Messi in an interview.

With the short vacation over, England began serious preparations to face Argentina.

Every player gathered at the training ground punctually, and Coach Southgate nodded with satisfaction.

As the team captain, I checked the players’ expressions to see if anyone’s condition had been ruined by foolishness.

‘Everyone seems to be in good shape, huh?’

Fortunately, there were no players whose condition had deteriorated due to excessive drinking, as Coach Southgate had feared.

The stage of the World Cup final had instilled discipline in the players.

Well, the only big incident was Chris Smalling getting blocked by Ronaldo.

“Jinho, I just got blocked by Ronaldo. What should I do?”

“Leave it be; it’ll sort itself out.”

That’s about as ordinary as it gets.

Anyway, we wrapped up our training for the match against Argentina, and on the way back to our accommodation.

I felt a vibration from my smartphone, checked the notification, and logged into Stargram.

As soon as I accessed Stargram, I saw a newly posted update from Ronaldo.

[CR7 Official★]

(Cristiano Ronaldo showing off crab walks on the treadmill.gif)

#A_World_Cup_Final_without_me_is_worthless#The_best_player_is_me.#This_is_the_true_Factors.

This guy really got scraped by the Factors.

└ Jinho10: Are you Scratch?

I left a comment on Ronaldo’s post, and within five seconds, I was blocked.

‘What the… is this a macro?’

*

After training, Coach Southgate received updates from the coaching staff about the players’ conditions.

Objectively, England’s situation wasn’t great.

“Overall, the players are quite exhausted. This has led to a decline in their physical abilities.”

Comparing the data collected before the tournament with the current state showed that overall stamina and abilities had decreased.

“Of course, the Argentine players are likely in a similar situation. They might be worse off because of the extra time they played.”

Among them, the players from Manchester United who had played up to the Champions League final showed noticeable fatigue.

“But the problem is that the player showing the greatest decline in ability is none other than Jinho.”

Aside from the Panama match due to suspension, Son Jinho started every match, running over 11 kilometers in each one. Even with his renowned stamina, running 11 kilometers every three days was undoubtedly taxing.

All the data suggested leaving Son Jinho out of the final match, yet Coach Southgate firmly decided to start him.

“Let’s trust Jinho. Football isn’t won by data alone.”

*

Time flew quickly.

On July 15, 2018, the day of the World Cup final arrived.

I hadn’t set an alarm, but I managed to sleep for precisely eight hours without a minute’s error.

Upon waking, I tidied my bedding as per my routine before starting some stretches.

Crack—

“Ugh….”

Even though I just lightly warmed up, my whole body screamed in protest.

It seemed I would have to take painkillers before the match.

Well, not just me; overall, the players’ conditions were not great.

Maybe it was because of the grueling demands of the World Cup stage, but most players had pushed themselves to play, and they had been hustling on the field so much that minor bruises were almost standard.

And this was true for the Argentine players as well.

Perhaps, among the 22 starting players, at least 19 would be taking painkillers during the final match?

Those indifferent to football might question the worth of dedicating their lives for the World Cup trophy, but as someone who loves football and works in it, I’d firmly say it’s worthwhile.

For football players, the World Cup is the pinnacle of honor they could ever achieve.

“The World Cup trophy is what all footballers aspire to.”

Anyway, we were just a step away from claiming the World Cup victory.

At this point, even those who were initially indifferent to winning would start to feel the urge to win. Even Lionel Messi, famous for leaving boring interviews, openly expressed his desire to win during a press conference.

In any case, after simply stretching and getting ready, the time for the match approached, and we boarded the bus to Luzhniki Stadium.

“Jinho, how’s your condition?”

“Not bad. Raheem, what about you?”

“Same here. I feel like I’ll score today.”

“I guess I’m not passing to you, then.”

“…What does that mean?”

While chatting with Raheem Sterling, we arrived near Luzhniki Stadium, where the final match was taking place.

[Jinho! Bring us the victory!]

Around the stadium, I noticed people, presumably English fans, holding up signs with my name from early in the morning.

“Jinho!!!”

As soon as I got off the bus, the crowd started chanting my name.

The anticipation for the first-ever away World Cup victory was palpable, and I could feel a twinge of fear in my chest.

‘If we don’t win, won’t I get roasted more than Messi?’

Well, I didn’t have any fear of being insulted.

After all, hadn’t I already endured more than my share of insults back in Korea while getting a heavy dose of preventive vaccines?

But what I worried about was my family. I feared that the backlash against me might reflect on them.

The desire to do well overwhelmed my mind, and with that pressure, I started feeling queasy.

Just then, my phone buzzed.

– Gyeouri: (Cheering you on, Dad! Haeun and Haseong are singing .avi)

Haeun and Haseong.

– Gyeouri: Son Jinho, this isn’t a Manchester United match! Don’t feel pressured, just go easy on it!

– Gyeouri: (A bunny wanting to raise both arms.)

– Gyeouri: Fighting!

The moment I saw Gyeouri’s support message.

A smile crept onto my face without me even realizing.

*

Lionel Messi, who woke up earlier than usual, didn’t bother to check his condition. He had to win, regardless of how he felt.

He frowned slightly at the subtle pain in his knee but maintained his expression as he headed down to the hotel lobby.

Messi had never shown any signs of weakness in front of his teammates.

Considering the criticism he received from the Argentine public, this level of pain meant nothing.

[“The root of defeat.” The not-so-great Lionel Messi.]

Having reached the final three times yet falling just short each time, Lionel Messi had earned three runner-up titles.

When he failed to achieve victory, a wave of criticism swept over him from the entire nation.

[Shocking! Lionel Messi announces retirement? “No one understands the pressure I live under.”]

[Lionel Messi’s shocking retirement announcement… “I’m just tired now.” What pushed Lionel Messi to the brink!]

Ultimately, Lionel Messi could not endure the pressure and announced his retirement.

He couldn’t ignore the people’s pleas for his return and reversed his retirement.

But even after that, he still felt the weight of the gazes from the Argentine public.

Taking a deep breath, he bore the expectations of 50 million Argentine citizens on his shoulders and made his way towards his waiting teammates.

“Let’s go. To victory.”

The moment Lionel Messi boarded the bus.

“Vamos!!!”

The Argentine players waiting near the bus roared and started boarding the bus heading to the stadium, following Lionel Messi.

*

[At last, the fateful day has arrived! England vs Argentina—who will take home the World Cup trophy?]

[We reveal the line-ups for England vs Argentina.]

[Lionel Messi vs Son Jinho. A match to decide the true god of football!]

*

Located in Moscow, Russia, Luzhniki Stadium.

The flags symbolizing England and Argentina unfurled, and the cheers from the crowd erupted.

A serious-faced Lionel Messi, devoid of any laughter, was visible.

Today, we simply looked at each other in silence.

A suffocating tension filled the air, and the moment the coin left the referee’s fingertips.

Ting.

Our final match began.

*

[Finally, the day has come! The 2018 Russia World Cup final! Here we are at Luzhniki Stadium, where the match between Argentina and England is being held!]

[Yes. The event that has made many laugh and cry is coming to a close.]

[That’s right. The World Cup, often called the greatest festival on earth, has seen plenty of events unfold, hasn’t it? Panelist Park Jisong, do you have a match that stands out in your memory?]

[There have been countless memorable matches, but above all, I want to say once more how hard the young players who have written a new chapter in Korean football have worked.]

[Indeed. For Korean football fans, this has truly been a dream-like time. Now, let’s go to England’s starting lineup. As always, captain Son Jinho will don the armband and take to the field. The solid expression on his face as he got off the bus has been posted on social media. He seems a little more relaxed now.]

[Yes. The pressure of the World Cup final is undoubtedly weighing on him. I hope Jinho can take it easy and approach the game with a calm mind.]

[Ah, just as I mention that, the broadcast captures Son Jinho and Lionel Messi together. They usually maintain a close relationship, but today, they don’t seem to exchange any words.]

[It seems they’re focused on the match.]

[That’s right. In the much-anticipated 2018 Russia World Cup, the game is underway as England kicks off!]

---