▲ Son Heung-min
Even after tying the record for the most goals by a South Korean player in A-matches, Son Heung-min (LAFC) cautiously expressed that he doesn't think the goal was really his.
Son scored a goal to narrow the gap in the 35th minute of the second half, when South Korea was trailing Uruguay 0-4, during a friendly match of the national football team held at Seoul World Cup Stadium yesterday (September 28).
As Lee Kang-in (Atletico Madrid) sent a cross from the right flank, Son attempted a right-footed first-time shot from the right side of the penalty area, and the ball went into the left side of the Uruguayan goal.
It was an ambiguous scene as to whether Lee's cross went straight into the net or if it brushed Son's foot.
Confusion persisted as some web portals, as well as the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), initially attributed the goal to Lee Kang-in.
However, the Korea Football Association officially recorded it as Son Heung-min's goal.
An official from the association stated, "We went through confirmation with the referee and tournament operations headquarters."
Although South Korea suffered a heavy 1-4 defeat to Uruguay on this day, it was a meaningful goal for South Korean football.
Playing in his 149th career match for the South Korean national team, Son scored his 58th goal, tying the record for the most goals by a South Korean male player in A-matches, which was previously held by former national team head coach Cha Bum-kun.
With this goal, Son also reached 300 combined career goals across the national team and professional clubs.
Having played for German clubs Hamburger SV (20 goals) and Bayer Leverkusen (29 goals), as well as English club Tottenham Hotspur (173 goals), Son currently plays for American club Los Angeles FC (20 goals), bringing his total official professional career goals to 242.
However, meeting reporters in the mixed zone after the match, Son began by saying, "First of all, I don't think it's my goal."
He added, "When you're playing a match, sometimes you honestly can't quite tell, but I don't feel like there was any contact."
Son also said, "If this goal is recorded as mine, I think I would feel a bit uneasy about it."
Rather than focusing on his record-tying A-match goal, Son placed more meaning on being able to learn even one more thing from the defeat.
Reflecting on the match, Son said, "It's very disappointing and I don't want to accept a defeat like this, but I think this is also a part of football," adding, "It was a match that showed once again why Uruguay is a strong team."
He then stated, "Today I learned once again that the sport of football is something you must always approach with humility."
Having experienced a bitter disappointment at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, South Korean football is playing six A-matches from this month through November under temporary head coach Robert Moreno (Spain).
In Moreno's debut match against Ecuador on September 24, the team secured a 3-0 victory.
Now, the national team will continue with matches against Venezuela in Ulsan on October 2, followed by a clash against Uzbekistan in Yongin on October 6.
Son emphasized, "If areas to improve were exposed, in a way that is good for us," adding, "Now we have two important matches left, and working to improve those areas is our task."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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