Hello to everyone who loves Nexon games,

this is Jaepamin!

Ever since I first discovered FIFA Online 2 in 5th grade, I’ve been completely into football, and I still have a great time following it even now. Back then, my friends and I would always jokingly argue over “if forwards and defenders went head-to-head, who would win?”

But then a sports collaboration event actually came along and turned that exact joke into reality: FIFA Online X ICON MATCH! I put this post together to revisit the lineup that had my heart racing back then, along with a few light memories from the event.

The Beginning of a Legend (2024 ICON MATCH)

The very first ICON MATCH was held in the fall of 2024. Once word got out that there would be an event match between the Spear Team, made up entirely of forwards, and the Shield Team, made up entirely of defenders, people were instantly hooked.

The lineup of confirmed players at the time was genuinely shocking.

Park Ji-sung, Del Piero, Drogba, Berbatov, Kaká, and more... this wasn’t just a list of recognizable names. It was a lineup packed with legendary players who had truly defined eras in football.

And then, to top it all off, even Ballon d'Or winners like Kaká, Figo, Owen, and Shevchenko joined in, and people absolutely went wild. It was such a bold lineup that people were joking, “Did they spend all of FIFA Online’s revenue on this?” When I first saw it, I honestly thought it had to be edited.

The lineup alone was enough to get people excited, but there were also tons of videos uploaded before the event match that had football fans buzzing. The trash-talk clips aimed at the opposing team were especially fun.

I still remember Hazard saying that if you passed to him, he’d bury every chance, and Puyol firing back by saying he’d score a hat trick himself. At the same time, seeing players who had been retired for so long still showing that level of passion really made me admire them even more.

Commemorative player packs for ICON MATCH, including Fan Boost and the Show & Prove Pack, were also released in-game in all kinds of forms. For people who play FIFA Online, it was the best of both worlds—you could join the event and pick up player packs for the stars you love.

And for anyone who plays FIFA Online, there was no way not to know Trans Fixion and All Time Low, who even appeared as the opening act.

They’re bands that gave us so many memorable songs like Timebomb and Radio, and those were also the tracks that always welcomed you when you launched FIFA, so it brought all those old memories rushing back. I remember thinking the staff behind this event had such a great sense for these things.

On the day of the main match, Korean football legend manager Cha Bum-kun walked in carrying the ICON MATCH trophy. It really made the scale of the event hit home, and I could feel my heart swelling a little. I also loved that the trophy itself was designed with a spear-and-shield motif.

Contrary to what many expected, the Shield Team completely took over the match and won 4:1. I suppose it made sense—everyone was well past their prime, and with physical ability naturally dropping off, the defenders’ side had a much bigger advantage. Even now, I still cherish that nice memory of watching the live broadcast while munching on chicken.

I was too busy to really watch the second ICON MATCH, but I’d love for a third ICON MATCH to happen too. As a football fan, I’m always waiting for it. 😎😎

Thanks for reading!