🇰🇷 South Korea Legends 1–1 Japan Legends 🇯🇵

Match Overview

On December 14, 2025, the Seoul World Cup Stadium witnessed one of the most emotional football events in years: a full-scale Legends Match between South Korean and Japanese retired national team stars. Organized by SBS, the game brought together heroes from the 2000s and 2010s in a 4×15-minute format with rolling substitutions – and the intensity was every bit a real Korea–Japan rivalry match.

Lineups (Key Players)

South Korea Legends

• GK: Kim Young-kwang
• DF: Lee Young-pyo, Park Joo-ho (C), Kwak Tae-hwi
• MF: Koo Ja-cheol, Park Ji-sung (2nd half), Lee Keun-ho
• FW: Seol Ki-hyeon, Lee Dong-gook (2nd half, injured but returned)
• Bench: Cha Du-ri, Kim Jae-sung, Yeom Ki-hun and more

Japan Legends

• GK: Minami (ex-Yokohama F. Marinos)
• DF: Nakazawa Yuji (C), Kaji Akira
• MF/FW: Honda Keisuke, Kaita, Kakitani Yoichiro, Sato Hisato, Josuji, Maizono
• Special guest commentator: Nakata Hidetoshi

Match Highlights

• 1st Quarter – Both teams played at 120% intensity from the first whistle. Legs gave way after 10 minutes, but pride kept everyone running.
• Honda Keisuke’s entrance (2nd quarter) – The moment the former AC Milan star stepped on, Japan’s tempo skyrocketed. His trademark left-foot rockets were saved repeatedly by Kim Young-kwang.
• Nakazawa’s opener (58') – The towering center-back rose highest from a corner to give Japan the lead.
• Lee Dong-gook’s heroic return – Despite a torn calf muscle, the “Lion King” refused to stay on the bench and came back in the final quarter.
• 73' – Drama! Lee Dong-gook powered home a late equalizer, sending the Seoul crowd into rapture.
• Man of the Match – Kim Young-kwang (multiple world-class saves kept Korea in the game).

Why This Match Mattered

It wasn’t about the score. It was about seeing Lee Young-pyo and Maizono battling again on the left wing, Honda curling 30-yard left-foot screamers, Nakazawa bombing forward like 2002, and Lee Dong-gook – with a torn calf – refusing to leave the pitch. For 60 minutes, time rolled back 15 years.

The rivalry, the passion, the respect – everything that makes Korea vs Japan special was there. And in the end, a draw felt exactly right.