Son Heung-min (34, LAFC) has finally written a new chapter in South Korean football history, scoring his 59th A-match goal to surpass "legend" former national team head coach Cha Bum-kun.

During an international friendly match against Uzbekistan held at Yongin Mireu Stadium on the 6th, Son scored the opening goal with a right-footed free kick in the 6th minute of the first half while the teams were tied 0-0.

After receiving a pass from Hwang Hee-chan in midfield, Son dribbled toward the left side of the penalty arc and fired a right-footed shot that hit an opposing player's arm. A free kick was awarded for a handball foul, and Son curled a low, right-footed shot from inside the arc around the defensive wall, sending the ball darting into the bottom right corner of the net.

With this goal, Son made his 151st career appearance for the South Korean national team and scored his 59th goal, breaking the record for the most A-match goals by a South Korean male player, which he previously shared with former coach Cha (136 matches, 58 goals).

Including female players, the record for the most A-match goals by a South Korean player is held by midfielder Ji So-yun (Suwon FC Women) with 76 goals in 182 matches.

Son made his A-match debut in December 2010 at the age of 18 during an international friendly against Syria.

In January 2011, the following year, he scored his debut international goal in only his third A-match appearance during an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup group stage match against India.

Son has worn the Taegeuk mark every year, starring as South Korean football's top player over the past 16 years.

He has also left massive footprints on the world football stage, notably becoming the first Asian player to win the English Premier League (EPL) Golden Boot.

Son has played across four consecutive World Cup finals, starting from the 2014 tournament in Brazil to the North and Central American tournament this year, scoring 3 of his 59 A-match goals on the World Cup stage.

He scored his first-ever World Cup goal during the third group stage match against Algeria at the 2014 Brazil tournament (2-4 loss), and found the net again during the 2018 Russia tournament in both the second group stage match against Mexico (1-2 loss) and the third match against Germany (2-0 win), bringing his total World Cup final goals to 3.

These 3 goals tie him with retired players Ahn Jung-hwan and Park Ji-sung for the most World Cup goals scored by a South Korean player.

Son already broke one of former coach Cha's records last year.

During a friendly match against Brazil on September 10 of last year, he made his 137th A-match appearance, breaking the record for the most A-match appearances by a South Korean male player (136 matches) previously shared by former coach Cha and former national team coach Hong Myung-bo.

Son appeared in all three group stage matches at the North and Central American World Cup but remained silent, staying stuck at 56 goals.

Afterwards, he reignited his scoring form with a fantastic free kick in a 3-0 win over Ecuador on September 24—the first match of the national team's fresh start under interim head coach Robert Moreno (Spain)—and tasted goals again in a 1-4 loss to Uruguay on September 28, matching former coach Cha.

In the match against Uruguay in the 35th minute of the second half, Lee Kang-in (Atletico Madrid) sent a cross from the right side, and Son attempted a right-footed first-time shot from the right side inside the penalty area, sending the ball into the left side of the Uruguayan goal.

After the match, Son said, "I don't think it's my goal. There was no feeling of contact," adding, "If this goal is recorded as mine, I would feel a bit uneasy."

However, his 59th career goal was unquestionably Son's.

With today's goal, Son's total official goals combined between the national team and professional clubs increased to 301.

Son has recorded 242 official goals in his professional career, having played for Germany's Hamburger SV (20 goals) and Bayer Leverkusen (29 goals), England's Tottenham Hotspur (173 goals), and currently playing for America's Los Angeles FC (20 goals).

(Photo: Yonhap News)