South Korea’s captain, Son Heung-min, has written his name into the World Cup history books after featuring in Friday morning’s group stage match against the Czech Republic.
This marks the fourth World Cup tournament for the former Tottenham Hotspur star. Son began his international journey with the “Taegeuk Warriors” in 2014, followed by appearances in 2018, 2022, and now the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Elite Club of Asian Football Legends
With this achievement, Son joins an exclusive list of just 13 elite Asian players who have had the honor of participating in four different World Cup editions.
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The Arab Pioneer: Saudi Arabian legend Sami Al-Jaber remains the only Arab player on this prestigious list, having represented the “Green Falcons” in 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006 consecutively.
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South Korean Milestones: Son is the fourth outfield player to reach this milestone for South Korea, following in the footsteps of Hwang Sun-hong, Hong Myung-bo, and Lee Woon-jae. Current national team goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu has also reached this shared milestone.
Son Heung-min’s World Cup Stats
Throughout his four World Cup campaigns, Son has played 11 matches, scoring 3 goals and providing 1 assist. His goalscoring record includes goals against:
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Algeria (2014)
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Mexico (2018)
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Germany (2018)
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Note: He also provided a crucial assist against Portugal during the Qatar 2022 edition.
Eyes on a New Asian Record
Meanwhile, if Yuto Nagatomo takes the field for Japan in this United States, Canada, and Mexico edition, he will officially become the first player in Asian football history to participate in five World Cup tournaments.
