Ju Se-jong Unaware of His Record-Breaking World Cup Assist

Ju Se-jong, the midfielder who made headlines during the 2018 World Cup, has recently discovered that he holds the record for the longest assist by an outfield player in the tournament's history. Surprisingly, this revelation came as a shock to Ju, who played for the South Korean national team, the Taeguk Warriors, during that memorable event in Russia.

This historic assist took place on June 27, 2018, in a tense match against Germany. With South Korea facing elimination after two losses, the team needed a victory and hoped for a favorable outcome in the match between Sweden and Mexico. The game, which has since been dubbed the "Miracle of Kazan," saw South Korea pull off an incredible upset against the reigning world champions.

Ju entered the match in the 69th minute, replacing Moon Seon-min, bringing a fresh perspective to the team's strategy. As the game approached its climax, South Korea shocked the world by scoring a goal in the 92nd minute, putting them ahead. In a dramatic moment during added time, Ju intercepted a ball from German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and launched a stunning 70-yard pass to Son Heung-min, who sealed the victory with a goal into an empty net.

Reflecting on the assist, Ju explained, "There weren’t any specific instructions. I noticed Neuer was far off his line and thought we could capitalize on that." His quick thinking and execution resulted in a 75-yard assist, earning him a record that he now takes pride in, despite initially being unaware of its significance.

Although South Korea did not progress beyond the group stage, they left the tournament with their heads held high, having defeated the then-defending champions. As the 2022 World Cup approaches, Ju offered encouragement to the current players, saying, "I hope our players focus on showing their best performances and achieving great results." His words resonate with the excitement and pressure that accompany such a prestigious event.