Nexon Icons Match features global football legends in attack-versus-defense showdown

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Nexon Icons Match features global football legends in attack-versus-defense showdown

Published: 13 Oct. 2024, 15:07 Updated: 13 Oct. 2024, 17:56

PAIK JI-HWAN
paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr

Chelsea's Didier Drogba celebrates scoring against Liverpool during the Champions League semifinal against Liverpool in London on April 30, 2008. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Football legends from around the world will introduce themselves to Korean fans at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Oct. 20 for the Nexon Icons Match — an ultimate attack-versus-defense showdown.

The exhibition match organized by Korean game company Nexon will pit FC Spear against Shield UTD, both of which consist of legends from across the globe in addition to former Korean players.

FC Spear, as the name suggests, is a team with a formidable attack led by some of the best former forwards.

Captained by Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, the squad also has former Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov, former AC Milan winger and 2007 Ballon d’Or winner Kaka, former Real Madrid forward Luis Figo, former Chelsea forward Dimitar Berbatov, former Chelsea winger Eden Hazard, former Juventus forward Alessandro Del Piero, former Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez, former United forward Michael Owen, former Uruguayan national striker Diego Forlan, former United midfielder Marouane Fellaini and former Barcelona forward Rivaldo.

Four former Korean players — Ahn Jung-hwan, Lee Chun-soo, Kim Byung-ji and Kim Yong-dae — complete the lineup managed by former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry. Korean football legend Park Ji-sung also joins the team as an assistant coach.

Over in Shield UTD, some of the most prominent former defenders and defensive midfielders are in the squad.

With former United defender Rio Ferdinand as captain, fellow former United defender Nemanja Vidic joins the team alongside former Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano, former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, former Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo, former AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf, former Barcelona defender Carles Puyol, former Juvenus defender Leonardo Bonucci, former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise, former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho, former FC Seoul midfielder Adilson and former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

Rio Ferdinand [JOONGANG ILBO]

Three ex-Korean players — Kim Nam-il, Park Joo-ho and Lim Min-hyeok — are also in the squad led by manager Fabio Cannavaro and assistant coach Lee Young-pyo.

It remains unclear, however, who will play as defenders from FC Spear as all players but goalkeepers Kim Byung-ji and Kim Yong-dae are forwards.

A similar problem lies within Shield UTD, who have no suitable options for forwards. Nexon could not be reached for comment on what the starting XI could look like as of press time Sunday.

Fans’ excitement for the match is clear, however, as all 48,000 tickets were sold out in one hour.

The legends will not only play the exhibition game, but also participate in preliminary events on Oct. 19 at Seoul World Cup Stadium that pit players to see who is better at shooting or one-on-one.

The upcoming legends match comes one year after a different legends game by Emirati football management firm Racing City Group that was to invite former football players like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Paolo Maldini to Korea, was canceled due reportedly to local promoters’ failure to meet an agreed payment schedule for Racing City Group.

The Nexon Icons Match will kick off at 6 p.m. on Oct. 20. Whether teams can make an unlimited amount of substitutions is unclear, but the match will last for 90 minutes, with two 45-minute halves.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]