It’s World Cup season again!
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Former Korean soccer heartthrob Cho Gue Sung is going viral once again, but this time, the reaction is very different.
The footballer, who became an overnight sensation during the 2022 FIFA World Cup thanks to his model-like visuals, has recently become the subject of heated discussion online after fans noticed a dramatic change in his appearance.
Recent photos of Cho Gue Sung began circulating across online communities, where netizens pointed out several differences from the look that originally made him a viral star.
Cho at the height of his popularity.
Many specifically highlighted his bleached eyebrows, which some felt made him appear noticeably different and older than before.
As the photos spread, some netizens referred to the athlete as looking “chopped.”
why is he so chopped now😭 https://t.co/g6fsoErI7n pic.twitter.com/2cQVdSAbAs
— 🍀 (@neogens) June 12, 2026
Some were more sympathetic, quoting his recent injury.
His injury that was supposed to heal in 2 months took him 15 months and almost cost his entire career. During that period of time, do y’all think he had time to take care of his appearance knowing he might NOT be able to play football ever again? https://t.co/sEhsD00TMD pic.twitter.com/h8HkAdWzmG
— Georgia✿ (@minwooshi8) June 13, 2026
Others don’t find the transformation an issue at all.
the way yall switch up the moment a korean man no longer looks like he could be an idol 😭 https://t.co/UWa0lkAOXF
— 𝙹𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚎𝙷𝚎𝚎•dyd•ride or die (@AntonsJuice) June 12, 2026
Cho Gue Sung first exploded in popularity during the 2022 World Cup, gaining millions of followers and widespread attention from international fans who dubbed him one of the tournament’s biggest visual stars.
“Player 9” Cho Gue Sung Goes Viral After Shocking With His Idol-Like Visuals In Unedited Preview Images
The star took a hiatus after it was made known that his knee had faced serious injury. What was even more unfortunate was that during surgery, the area got infected, causing his bodily condition to drop. He was benched for awhile before making return to the coming season in Fall 2025.