After retiring in 2014 due to persistent knee issues, former South Korean football icon Park Ji-sung made a brief but unforgettable return to the pitch. The 64,000 fans at Seoul World Cup Stadium erupted into cheers, singing his famous PSV Eindhoven chant, "Wi Sung Pa Re," as they celebrated the return of their beloved "Captain."

On October 20, Park Ji-sung stepped back onto the field during the 2024 Nexon Icon Match, held in Seoul’s Sangam district. He entered as a substitute in the 85th minute, marking his first appearance in nearly a decade. The exhibition match featured a star-studded lineup of football legends, with players like Didier Drogba, Andrea Pirlo, Kaka, Luís Figo, Carles Puyol, and Michael Owen all participating in a game between "Legendary Attackers" and "Legendary Defenders."

Representing Korea were former national team stars such as Ahn Jung-hwan, Lee Young-pyo, Kim Nam-il, Park Joo-ho, Lee Chun-soo, and Kim Byung-ji, who all took part in the friendly match. Initially, Park Ji-sung served as the coach of the attacking team, "FC Spear." But when he was substituted onto the field late in the second half, the stadium erupted with applause and cheers.

Park's entrance onto the pitch came right after Andriy Shevchenko won a penalty for his team. In a touching gesture, Park's teammates allowed him to take the penalty. Park calmly converted the spot-kick, making his first touch of the game a goal, much to the delight of the crowd.

As soon as Park found the back of the net, fans broke out into the familiar chant, "Wi Sung Pa Re," a song that had once filled the stands during his PSV Eindhoven days. One of the broadcast cameras captured an emotional fan wiping away tears while wearing a Kyoto Purple Sanga FC jersey, Park’s first professional club in Japan.

Fans were deeply moved by Park’s brief return, and social media was flooded with emotional reactions. Comments included, "I couldn’t help but tear up when I saw that fan cry," "Singing 'Wi Sung Pa Re' felt like stepping into a time machine, reliving those joyful moments," and "Seeing Park Ji-sung play again felt like a gift."

In a YouTube interview with Shoot for Love before the match, Park admitted that playing was no longer easy for him due to his knee problems. "I can’t really play anymore. I want to run, but I can’t," he confessed. "My knee has been this way since 2009, but I haven’t had it checked recently, so I’m not sure about the exact condition."

Park further explained, "I’ve had two surgeries on my knee. When I overuse it, my knee fills with fluid and swells. It’s my body’s way of telling me to stop. Now that I don’t exercise much, I lack the muscle, so it reacts even more quickly when I push myself."

Park Ji-sung’s wife, former news anchor Kim Min-ji, also shared her feelings on social media after the game. She posted a picture of her husband along with the message, "For just five minutes in this match, Mandoo's dad worked out every day. The man whose personal color is the green of the grass."

The match concluded with a 4-1 victory for the defensive team, "Shield United." Interestingly, Park had predicted the result before the game, saying, "The defense always wins. Even when I played, the attack never beat the defense. If I could choose a team, I’d pick the defenders. I think they’re going to win."