Football Club (FC) Seoul’s Yazan, who represented Jordan at the 2026 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup in North and Central America, shared a fascinating anecdote about Lionel Messi: I could smell his cologne from 10 meters away.
Yazan spoke with News1 after FC Seoul’s K League 1 Round 17 match against Gangwon FC on July 12, reflecting on his World Cup experience.
This was Yazan’s first interview with Korean media since returning from the tournament, as he missed the post-match interview after the previous game against Incheon United due to a doping test.
As a professional, it always give his all, regardless of the competition, Yazan said. But playing on the World Cup stage definitely boosted his confidence. The experience of my teammates fighting for him, and his trust in them, really strengthened his self-belief.
Despite exiting the group stage with three losses, Jordan made history by scoring in each of their matches in their World Cup debut.
They left a lasting impression, notably by keeping pace with defending champions Argentina until the final whistle.
Yazan, who played every minute as a key center-back for Jordan, shared his memorable experience of facing Messi, widely regarded as the world’s best player.
Messi is truly phenomenal, Yazan gushed. After facing him, he’s convinced Messi is the greatest player in history. What struck him was how he constantly scanned the field, always aware of his surroundings. It was incredible. Although it lost to Argentina, he learned so much. Those moments against Messi will be invaluable for his growth as a player.
With a grin, Yazan added that he could smell Messi’s cologne even from over 10 meters away. Even his fragrance was impressive.
Yazan also drew parallels between his World Cup experience and Korean soccer.
The World Cup experience doesn’t make the K League feel any easier, he emphasized. The K League has plenty of talented players. In fact, he believes several Korean players could compete at the World Cup or in Europe if they just had a bit more self-belief and confidence.
