Towards the Ballon d'Or. (4)
The roar of the crowd shook the air: "Waaaaaaa!!!"
Zahra watched Ryu Ha-neul take the field and could not help but internally scoff. 'Tch, as if anyone would like him.'
As an Arab football expert journalist and a member of the Ballon d'Or voting panel, Zahra was well-versed in the sport. But the sight of Ryu Ha-neul, a male player, instinctively repulsed her.
Especially when she saw him, still wearing the hijab from the Asian Cup, now playing a friendly match without it. It only deepened her displeasure.
'I thought he respected it, but seeing him take it off for a friendly match... it was clearly deception.'
During the Asian Cup, Ryu Ha-neul had worn the hijab throughout the tournament. But the moment World Cup qualifiers began, he started removing it every time he toured Islamic countries. Yet, removing it even in the host nation of the Asian Cup, the United Arab Emirates, was utterly unacceptable.
Zahra resented the football association for permitting such friendly matches.
Of course, Ryu Ha-neul's status had changed dramatically since then. Once just a key player for the World Cup quarterfinals, he was now a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or, one of the primary reasons Barcelona had won the Champions League.
Nevertheless, South Korea, his country, had to play Brazil, the world's strongest team, in a friendly match. The association should have strongly insisted that Ryu Ha-neul play while wearing the hijab.
'No matter what... this is unacceptable. Unacceptable.'
Even though the Brazil-Korea match was a major draw, allowing this was outrageous.
Zahra watched Ryu Ha-neul place his hand on his chest and sing the Korean national anthem.
She avoided looking, but Ryu Ha-neul's appearance stood out among the Asians. His blonde hair glistened in the sunlight, and his pale skin with delicately chiseled features shone brilliantly.
He looked beautiful to anyone, but to Zahra, even that beauty displeased her.
'Tsk tsk, how many women has this pretty boy seduced with that face.'
And her beloved team was being ruined by one man. As a fan of Barcelona before anything else, Zahra was even more heartbroken.
'That prostitute guy is ruining the team.'
Seeing Ryu Ha-neul's beautiful appearance, old memories resurfaced for Zahra. The memory of when she first came to hate him.
Actually, Zahra's hatred for Ryu Ha-neul wasn't just about the hijab. It was just adding one more reason to hate him. The first time she hated him was much earlier.
The first memory of hatred towards Ryu Ha-neul was when Amira was essentially driven out.
Even setting aside religious perspectives, at that time, Barcelona should have chosen Amira, who had superior football skills.
In hindsight, Ryu Ha-neul's rapid rise to Ballon d'Or candidacy made Barcelona's decision seem correct, but that was hindsight.
Zahra had written several articles criticizing Barcelona for failing to understand Amira at the time, but Barcelona ignored her advice.
At that time, Zahra had thought it natural. Between Amira, the starter and one of the world's best midfielders, and the newly debuted 16-year-old Ryu Ha-neul, of course Amira should have been chosen.
Ryu Ha-neul had talent, but it was nothing compared to Amira.
But the team chose to expel Amira. To Zahra, that was an impossible decision. The only possibility was that the "prostitute" guy had lobbied the players, coaches, and board members.
If he remained at Barcelona, he would continue mixing with female players, and Barcelona would become Sodom and Gomorrah as described in the Quran.
Zahra's thoughts were reflected in her articles. As a journalist, she avoided words like "prostitute" or attacking minors sexually, but she sharply criticized Barcelona.
Therefore, perhaps Zahra's hatred for Ryu Ha-neul was also related to her career. The better Ryu Ha-neul performed, the more it revealed her lack of insight.
That's why there was no place for Ryu Ha-neul on her Ballon d'Or voter ballot.
Of course, as a respected football journalist who had earned that position, Zahra had her own logic for not selecting him.
'Anyway, that guy only shows off against weak teams.'
Decisively, Ryu Ha-neul had never beaten a team stronger than himself. In the club, there was no team stronger than Barcelona, so the Champions League win meant nothing to Zahra.
Then, the remaining was national team matches.
Zahra paid attention to Ryu Ha-neul's performances with the national team. Winning the Asian Cup and reaching the World Cup quarterfinals was the best career one could achieve in Asia. But even so, South Korea hadn't beaten teams stronger than Zahra.
South Korea was always the champion in Asia, so the remaining was the World Cup.
But the South Korea led by Ryu Ha-neul lost 2:1 to Germany in the group stage and 3:2 to Belgium in the quarterfinals.
And Zahra thought that was Ryu Ha-neul's weakness. He could beat weak teams well, but to beat strong teams, he needed unnecessary components. That was Zahra's view of Ryu Ha-neul.
The Ballon d'Or was the highest glory that should go to the best player. And the best player was one that no one could replace.
But Ryu Ha-neul, who was equal or only good against weak teams, wasn't irreplaceable.
Bestowing the Ballon d'Or on Ryu Ha-neul, who was just a bit better at faking than others, would contradict her journalistic beliefs.
... That's how Zahra tried to solidify her thoughts.
Beep. Whistle. The match begins.
'Lose, please lose. And show your ugly face today. If you're really the best, prove it by beating Brazil.'
Zahra always cursed Ryu Ha-neul while watching his matches, just like now.
Ho'berta's shot! Misses the goal! Now South Korea's attack.
Five days ago, in the second leg of the World Cup Asian qualifiers against Lebanon, South Korea beat Lebanon 3:0 and showed fierce attacking power. I hope they show the same against Brazil.
Haha, that time, Ryu Ha-neul and Kang Yu-ri had wonderful chemistry, right? Ryu Ha-neul assisted Kang Yu-ri's goal, and Kang Yu-ri assisted both of Ryu Ha-neul's goals. Right before that, there was a dating rumor, but such chemistry couldn't help but lead to dating rumors.
Commentator Hee-joo, let's just talk about the match.
Commissioner Gang, haven't you heard anything from your daughter?
He said it's not like that, but Yu-ri, I mean Kang Yu-ri, will handle it herself. What can I say to someone who's making more money than me just because she's older than me.
And Zahra's curses continued even during the Korean broadcasters' chat.
'Make a mistake, mistake.... You're just riding on Barcelona's pass play. Just a part of the system!'
Because the Ballon d'Or voting deadline was approaching, Zahra cursed Ryu Ha-neul with stronger intensity than usual.
But strong negativity can also be strong positivity.
Zahra secretly knew.
Even against the world's strongest team, Brazil, if he showed good performance, he would have to recognize Ryu Ha-neul.
That's why recently, every time she saw Ryu Ha-neul, she cursed him even more harshly.
[Ryu Ha-neul's pass! Cuts across the space!]
Ryu Ha-neul's pass leaped over Brazil's defenders and went far. It was a long pass, enough to look like a miss.
'Good, pass miss!'
But Ryu Ha-neul's pass, after taking a reverse spin, connected to Kang Yu-ri who was running back.
An amazing pass that even a layman could see.
And Zahra, a football expert journalist, knew the greatness of that pass even better.
'... Against Brazil, such a pass.'
Her firmly held heart was gradually crumbling. Or maybe it had already crumbled before. She just didn't want to admit her mistake.
[Kang Yu-ri's shot! Ah, misses! But South Korea shows good attack!]
South Korea's first shot missed, but the match continued.
And as the match progressed, among Brazil's many stars, only one shone brighter: Ryu Ha-neul, whose blonde hair reflected the sunlight even more as he led South Korea against Brazil.
[Ryu Ha-neul takes the ball, one, two!]
The first was flip-flop, the second was two-footed dribbling. Ryu Ha-neul's beautiful individual skills that Zahra had seen many times unfolded against Brazil.
But Zahra had no time to admire such play against Brazil. In fact, Ryu Ha-neul was the player who played such against players better than Brazil's national team midfielders in defense.
She knew. She knew well. Ryu Ha-neul was a sparkling gem.
Only, she was trapped in prejudice and obsession and didn't want to admit it.
[Gets past Davina, 1:1 with the goalkeeper! Shoot! Goal! South Korea scores first! Ryu Ha-neul's wonderful breakthrough creates the first goal.]
Ryu Ha-neul's shot shook Brazil's goal net.
Football players who had been Zahra's heroes since childhood: Maria who revolutionized football, her rival Julia, Diana worshipped as a god in Argentina, Veronique who reached the pinnacle of beautiful football, Lima who showed her most destructive prime, Lucia who conquered the world with just passes.
One by one, the football players she admired passed through her memory.
But could any player be as beautiful as current Ryu Ha-neul?
Her heart was pounding. Every time she watched Ryu Ha-neul's match, it always was.
Zahra tried to think the pounding as anger.
But now it was time to admit. This pounding was not anger, but ecstasy.
After the first half ended 1:0, Zahra took out the ballot she had prepared. And she tried to exercise her precious right by voting for Ryu Ha-neul's name.
It was perhaps just 5 points, but as a Muslim, her mindset blocked her hand.
'Oh God, forgive me. This is just football.'
So Zahra moved the pen with the mindset of a traitor.
And on the other hand, other Muslim journalists fervently prayed not to betray. It was enough that she alone committed the sin of voting for a man.
But Zahra didn't know.
That she was the last traitor among many Muslim voters.