2014 FIFA Brazil World Cup.
Following the South Africa World Cup, this tournament was also surrounded by controversy in many ways.
Because of various policies by the Brazilian government, there were so many concerns that a million people across the country took part in protests against the World Cup.
But contrary to those worries, once it actually began, the exact opposite happened.
The 2014 Brazil World Cup recorded the highest viewership in history and became a massive success.
As a result, the companies that had invested in the World Cup enjoyed a windfall, and Brazil also gained huge economic benefits.
One of the biggest reasons the tournament became such a success was none other than Ho-young.
With his goal storms and fantastic play in every match, viewers had no choice but to look forward to every game.
And so, the FIFA Brazil World Cup was benefiting greatly from the Ho-young effect.
It got to the point where scalped tickets for matches involving Spain were absurdly more expensive than for other matches.
That made sense, because Ho-young's play was no different from a human circus that one might never see again in their lifetime.
That was also why scalped VIP tickets for today's final were going for around €70,000.
[Ho-young, who made the Brazil World Cup the most "expensive" World Cup in history, the expected tourism revenue for the 12 host cities alone exceeds €3.5 billion]
[Around 30,000 security personnel to be deployed near the Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, the venue for the final]
The Brazilian authorities planned to thoroughly protect the players and spectators through extremely tight security.
That was because there had recently been many concerns about public safety in Brazil due to several unfortunate incidents.
There had even been a case where a referee stabbed a footballer to death on the spot after the player protested one of his decisions.
As if that were not enough, the spectators then caught that referee, beheaded him, and dismembered him.
Even if it had happened in an amateur match, the fact that something like that had taken place in the World Cup host nation made it impossible not to worry.
So the 30,000 or so security personnel deployed around the stadium maintained ironclad security and did their utmost to ensure the final went ahead without issue.
And so, the final was prepared in a tense atmosphere.
Then, at 2:20 p.m.
With a little over 100 minutes left before kickoff, the World Cup closing ceremony was held.
Twenty Brazilian dancers in dazzling outfits raised the excitement with an upbeat samba performance, and thirty-two people representing each nation came out and began a parade.
After that, Colombian singer Shakira appeared and brought the atmosphere to its peak.
[A global singer, and also the wife of Gerard Piqué.]
[Yes, he must be watching the stage from inside the dressing room right now. He must be feeling very proud.]
In addition, famous musicians such as Carlinhos Brown, Wyclef Jean, Alexandre Pires, and Ivete Sangalo came out and performed together.
After the entire stage performance ended, Miroslav Klose, one of the key figures in Germany's triumph at the 2010 South Africa World Cup, came out carrying the trophy and formally signaled the start of the match.
Beside him was the official match ball for today's final, the Adidas Brazuca Final Rio.
[At last, the official ball for the final is revealed. Its surface is painted in green, gold, and black.]
Brazuca.
A product of science, made more perfectly spherical than the Jabulani used four years earlier.
With very little air resistance, it had the advantage of being favorable to the kicker because of its high ball speed, while also having low rebound, making it easier to send the ball exactly where intended.
[It's a ball with many advantages for knuckleball shooters like Ho-young and Ronaldo. In fact, many goals have been scored in this tournament as well.]
[Conversely, it is nothing less than a nightmare for goalkeepers. Because the pitch is so wet, the reality is that when a long-range shot comes in, they can hardly even think about catching it.]
Ho-young had already scored eight goals from long-range shots alone in this tournament.
For goalkeepers, it was hard to catch, and even if they punched it away, the speed of the ball meant second balls came out frequently.
But Argentina's goalkeeper Sergio Romero was different.
He had conceded only two goals in this tournament and was showing himself to be especially strong against the Brazuca.
[Ho-young and Romero faced each other six years ago at the Beijing Olympics. Back then, Ho-young was only 15, and he practically toyed with Romero. If it were me, I'd be so nervous I wouldn't be able to think.]
[He must be terrified. He has to face the god of football, a man who has scored around 300 goals in the last three seasons.]
At that moment, the inside of the tunnel was full of tension.
Soon, as the huge curtain was drawn back, upbeat samba music rang out across the stadium.
That was when the players of both teams stepped out of the tunnel.
"Woaaaaaaaah!!"
A thrilling roar.
Then the national anthems of both teams played, driving the players' desire to the very top.
Right after that, Casillas and Messi came out and shook hands with the referee.
[The referee will be Nicola Rizzoli of Italy. He will be assisted by Andrea Stefani and Renato Faverani.]
[Ah, Argentina will take the kickoff.]
Messi approached the centre circle with a resolute expression.
Winning the World Cup.
If he could achieve that dream, he would be able to overtake Ronaldo and become the perfect number two.
If he was even more ambitious, it would give him one weapon he could proudly present against Ho-young.
Because winning the World Cup was a career achievement more valuable than anything else.
The match soon began with the countdown of the 74,000 spectators.
Piiik!
[Yes, the match has started. Lionel Messi plays it backward. Argentina spread out and slowly begin to read the flow of the game.]
[Spain respond by pinning them back with aggressive high pressing right from the start.]
As everyone expected, the shape both teams had prepared appeared on the pitch.
First, Argentina came out in a 5-3-2 formation.
With Romero at the back, they formed a Rojo-Garay-Mascherano-Demichelis-Zabaleta line, presenting an intelligent and cunning defensive line.
In midfield, they deployed the quick-moving Di María, Gago, and Rodríguez, making fast recovery defending and rapid transitions possible.
Up front, the two strikers were Higuaín and Messi.
[Defend first, then counter-attack. That has been Argentina's greatest strength in this tournament. You could say it is the core of Argentina's tactics.]
An obvious tactic.
Using a tactic that had already been exposed several times so openly in a final might seem foolish.
But at least for Argentina, that did not apply.
[They cannot stop Ho-young anyway. So rather than trying something bold, Argentina must believe it is better to do what they do best.]
[That's right. It is already known as the best way to face Ho-young.]
A truth of football.
One way or another, if the result would be the same, it was better to face him with the tactic they had at least some confidence in.
Spain also brought out the weapon they trusted most.
A 4-2-3-1.
It was a system built on tiki-taka just as precise and quick as their usual 4-3-3,
while also relying on creative combination play.
The special point was that Ho-young was not the central striker.
With his passing and defending having improved like crazy, Ho-young had occasionally been playing as an attacking midfielder since last year, and today was the same.
Everything flowed out from Ho-young and came back into him.
Like a place where several divided streams joined into one.
Just as a heart controlled the speed and direction of blood, Ho-young was orchestrating the overall flow of the pitch.
In other words, the beginning and end of Spain's attack and defense were with Ho-young.
Tap!
Tak!
[Spain win possession and quickly surge forward.]
[The ball reaches midfield in an instant. Busquets and Xabi Alonso move it quickly.]
Everything was falling into place like interlocking gears turning.
And then.
'Now.'
Once the sketch was finished, it was time to pick up the brush.
Ho-young, who had been staying in midfield, tried to make a run into the open space in the second line.
But there were always players there to interfere.
Mascherano and Gago had stepped up from the third line and were guarding the space from both sides, ready for Ho-young's breakthrough.
It happened the moment Fàbregas in midfield passed to Ho-young.
Boom!
[Fàbregas with the forward pass! Ho-young receives it... huh?!]
[W, what...?]
Ho-young received Fàbregas's pass.
But then.
"...!"
There was no tap at all, the sound that should have come with the first touch.
It was a wondrous play.
As the ball reached his foot,
Ho-young took the ball that came flying at him at fierce speed with the outside of his foot, then knocked it outward again with the same outside touch, throwing his marker off with a change of direction.
He handled it as if the ball were part of his body.
"Ugh!"
Mascherano, who had anticipated the direction in advance and shifted his balance to the left, had no choice but to open the way for Ho-young in the end.
Next came Fernando Gago.
He had once been a teammate under the same roof, but now he was nothing more and nothing less than an opponent to be crushed.
Ho-young proved that with a dribble no one could help but fall for.
[Wow...]
[Unbelievable! The ball is glued to his foot!!]
Like raindrops brushing against the body, Ho-young's body slid past Gago's elbow.
And that was not the end.
Tak!
Tap!
[A pass into space! David Silva receives it!]
[The ball comes back to Ho-young!]
Perfect combination play unfolded as if it had all been prearranged, and before long the ball had reached the penalty area.
Ho-young had possession.
If they could not stop him here, it was certain to go in.
That was an unchanging truth, so Demichelis and Garay charged in desperately, ready to take a booking if necessary.
But.
Whoosh!
There was no physical battle at all.
Ho-young simply beat them one after another with a few movements.
Above the waist came three body feints, while below the legs a flip-flap and a Cruyff turn unfolded at the same time. Who in the world could see that and still respond?
Even the final hope, Romero, was deceived by the play.
And in the end.
Rustle!
Romero, who had specially trained to deal with long-range shots, ended up conceding right in front of goal.
And Ho-young,
"Hoo!"
with the same celebration that had not changed even after ten years, instantly silenced Argentina's fiery momentum.
That atmosphere did not change until the match ended.
Argentina tried to chase the game until the end through a penalty and a free-kick goal, but the goddess of victory ultimately stood with Spain.
Piiik!
[Yes! The match ends 5-2! Spain win the 2014 Brazil World Cup!]
As soon as the match ended, the main camera zoomed in on the center of the pitch.
It was Ho-young, kneeling on the grass with both hands tightly clasped.
How breathlessly he had run to reach this point.
As soon as he thought that, his entire body trembled so much that he could not get up.
But then.
"Woooooooah!"
"Young! Young! Young!"
As if they understood what was in Ho-young's heart, the countless spectators who had come to the stadium gave him thunderous applause.
And Ho-young rose to his feet with tears of emotion.
Even he himself did not know why the tears were coming.
Was it because all the effort he had made until now had finally borne fruit?
Or because he had finally reached his destination?
No, this was not the time to worry about that.
What mattered was this.
[You have coveted the Football Emperor's Perfect Attacking Sense (L).]
Now that he had finally obtained the last key, the door that marked both the end and the beginning would open.
(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.)