‘Ji Messi’ has point to prove in France
Chelsea midfielder Ji So-yun’s experience of playing in Europe could prove an invaluable asset for South Korea at the Women’s World Cup.
Nicknamed “Ji Messi” by fans who regard her as the female equivalent of the Barcelona great, the 28-year-old is South Korea’s record scorer with 54 goals in 115 appearances.
The trailblazing Ji became the first Korean woman to play professionally in England when she made a high-profile move to Chelsea in 2014.
Ji’s first season in London was a success as Chelsea, who had struggled near the foot of the table in 2013, were transformed into title challengers.
She netted nine goals in 19 appearances in all competitions but Chelsea ended up being pipped to the Women’s Super League crown by Liverpool on goal difference.
Ji won FA Women’s Player of the Year at the end of her first season in England and made it a Chelsea double at the Professional Footballers Association awards when she collected the Players’ Player of the Year honour alongside Eden Hazard.
“When I first moved to England my goal was to get myself known,” she said in a newspaper interview in 2017.
Ji’s first World Cup appearance in 2015 ended in a disappointment. She injured her thigh in her 2-1 group game win over Spain, and had to watch on as France eliminated Korea in the last 16.
She will get an early chance to avenge those memories when the Taeguk Ladies face tournament hosts France, who are ranked fourth, 10 places above the Koreans, in the opening match on Friday.