As South Korea advances to its first World Cup knockout round since 2010, one player in particular is drawing attention — and not just for his soccer skills.
It appears his team has become aware of the player’s newfound fame — Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC posted four consecutive videos of Cho to the team’s TikTok account. “They know what we want,” one user commented.
Cho stood out last week when he scored two header goals against Ghana, and then garnered even more attention Friday for an apparently contentious exchange with Cristiano Ronaldo, who said Cho had told him to move off the pitch quickly. The scuffle sparked rumors that Cho had learned Portuguese in an effort to taunt the Portuguese players more effectively.
David Tizzard, an assistant professor of Korean studies at Seoul Women’s University, said that although other soccer players have grabbed nationwide attention in South Korea — a country where people “have always fawned over those in the spotlight, be it footballers, idols or actors” — it was notable that Cho was gaining international acclaim. “We are now seeing this desire emerge all over the world,” he said.
The sudden fame has sparked chatter over how Cho could cash in on his newfound following. Multiple teams outside South Korea are reported to be interested in a transfer. For now, Cho’s fans will get another chance to see him in action on Monday, when Korea is set to face off against Brazil in the round of 16.
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