3 football-crazy celebs excited for 2018 World Cup
Singer Yoon Doo-joon of K-pop boy band Highlight / Courtesy of MBC
By Dong Sun-hwa
Guess which celebrities are most excited about the 2018 Russian World Cup.
Yoon Doo-joon, 30, a member of K-pop boy band Highlight, was a football player in his early days, but changed his mind to become a singer after watching a documentary filmed by K-pop act BIGBANG.
He is an active player of the celebrity football club FC MEN, and is dubbed “Ronaldo Doo-joon,” after Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid.
Appearing on the pre-World Cup variety show Monday, Yoon singled out Son Heung-min and Lee Seung-woo as his favorite in Team Korea, predicting Korea will beat Sweden 2-0. Yoon predicted Argentina as the ultimate winner.
Rapper Minho of K-pop boy band SHINee / Courtesy of MBC
Minho, a rapper of K-pop boy band SHINee whose father is the coach for K League football team Busan Ipark, had dreamed of becoming a football player, but gave it up due to his father's opposition.
Minho, a well-known striker in an amateur team, flew to England and watched Park Ji-sung of Queens Park Rangers in the English Premier League in 2012. Recently, he disclosed his wish to work as a football analyst too.
Kim Jun-su or Xia / Courtesy of be kind
Kim Jun-su of K-pop boy group JYJ, also known as Xia, was recognized by Park Ji-sung as the best amateur celeb player. Known for his speed and foot skills, he was the first head of FC MEN.
The singer, who said he would like to be a soccer player in his next life, plans a concert to cheer the national team before its match with Mexico on June 24.