Seoul: About a year ago, whispers circulated that Cho Gue-sung, a star from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, might never play football again. After undergoing knee surgery, complications sidelined him for over a year, casting doubts on his prospects for the 2026 World Cup. Yet, Cho, now 28, maintained his self-belief and has been rewarded with a call-up to this year's World Cup, having rejoined his Danish club FC Midtjylland last fall.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho expressed unwavering confidence during his rehabilitation. Speaking to reporters at Zions Bank Training Center in Utah, he stated, "Even during my rehab, I didn't have any doubt. I believed that I would have my opportunity, and that opportunity is here." Cho had made headlines at the 2022 World Cup by scoring two header goals against Ghana, becoming the first South Korean player to achieve multiple goals in a single World Cup match, despite South Korea's 3-2 loss.
Cho's World Cup performance initially paved his way to a career in Europe, but his journey was unexpectedly disrupted by health issues. However, he returned in time for the World Cup season, scoring seven goals in 42 matches across all competitions in the 2025-26 campaign. In November, he was called up for international duty for the first time in 20 months, marking his return with a goal in a match against Bolivia.
Reflecting on his aspirations, Cho mentioned his desire to rejoin the national team and his memories of the goals against Ghana. He said, "I wanted to get back with the national team so badly. Whenever I come to national team camps, I think of the goals I had against Ghana. It felt great then." As he continues to evolve as a player, Cho aims to capitalize on his strengths, particularly in offensive scenarios, stating, "I will try to win my battles in the box and protect the ball. I would love to score a goal with my foot this time."
Cho will face competition from Besiktas forward Oh Hyeon-gyu for the striker position, with captain Son Heung-min also a contender for playing up front. Emphasizing teamwork, Cho said, "All three of us have our unique sets of skills. Whether I get to play five minutes or 10 minutes, I will try to make the most of my minutes and help the team."