Son Heung-Min scores 50th international goal in South Korea World Cup qualifying win

11/14/2024 12:58 PM

Sonny is just eight goals from becoming South Korea's all-time record goal scorer.

Tottenham Hotspur and South Korea captain Son Heung-Min hit another personal and professional milestone today, scoring from the penalty spot in South Korea's 3-1 win at Kuwait in World Cup qualifying.

The goal itself isn't anything special, but the significance of it certainly is. Sonny also nearly got his 51st goal, flashing a shot just wide of the post later on in the match.

Son is just the second Korean player to hit that 50 goal milestone for his country (the third place finisher is Yoo Sang-chul with just 18 goals) and Sonny is now just eight goals behind the Taeguk Warriors' legendary striker Cha Bum-Kun, a record he's held since the 1980s. In addition, Son is only seven Korea matches away from becoming his nation's most capped international player, a record held by Cha and Hong Myung-Bo.

There is very little doubt that Son will quite easily break both of those records before his international football career finishes; the only question is how far beyond both of those standards he will set the new benchmark. I don't think it's at all hyperbole to say that Son will end his career as the best player to ever suit up for the nation of South Korea, and it's a privilege to have him also captaining our favorite club, Tottenham Hotspur. It may be a long time before his eventual records will be eclipsed (or maybe not if Yang Min-Hyeok has anything to say about it).