Despite suffering two tears to his right anterior cruciate ligament, 36-year-old Kim Seung-gyu dedicated himself relentlessly to making a comeback for the World Cup. On the 12th, in the closing stages of the game versus the Czech Republic, he made several vital stops, helping South Korea secure their first win at the World Cup held in North and Central America.
Prior to this competition, he referred to participating in the World Cup as a "gift" for himself—and he has now presented his nation with an extraordinary present.
The opening match of Group A for the North and Central American World Cup featuring South Korea versus the Czech Republic was held at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, Mexico. South Korea made a strong recovery with back-to-back goals from Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeong-gyu during the second half, securing a 2-1 victory.
Kim's influence became more prominent following Oh's decisive goal in the 35th minute of the second half. In the 37th minute, with the ball coming from a Czech throw-in, Adam Hložek took a swift shot. As his body moved toward the net, Kim quickly stretched out both arms to stop the ball.
A new emergency occurred in the third minute of extra time. The opposing team broke through South Korea's left defense and sent over a cross, as Michal Sadilek shot towards the far corner. As the ball approached the net, Kim extended both arms once more to grab it.
Kim additionally demonstrated consistent movement with his feet when launching assaults, supporting South Korea's transition plays.
A highly anticipated talent from an early age, this is now Kim's fourth participation in the World Cup. During the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil, he featured only in the last group stage game. In 2018, when the tournament was hosted in Russia, he stepped aside for Cho Hyun-woo to take the starting position. By the time of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, with Coach Bento emphasizing ball possession skills, Kim regained his place as starter and contributed to reaching the Round of 16. In the North and Central American World Cup, selected by Coach Hong Myung-bo, he successfully protected three crucial points.
Although he has had an outstanding career, Kim is also referred to as a "representative of human victory." In 2024, he experienced two tears in his anterior cruciate ligaments. For someone over 35, these types of injuries typically signal the end of a professional sports career, yet intense recovery efforts allowed him to return.
“He stated, 'Up until last year, I never imagined being part of the World Cup. I was concerned about whether I could keep playing, but going through that phase has granted me this opportunity,'” Kim mentioned.
Following this win, Kim kept a vow to present a special gift to his daughter, who was born from his partnership with the fourth model, Kim Jin-kyung.
