Son Heung-min has written a new chapter in South Korean football history.
In a friendly against Uzbekistan at Mir Stadium in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on October 6, Son Heung-min opened the scoring with a free kick in the sixth minute, recording his 59th goal in international matches.
From a free kick awarded to the left of the penalty arc, he struck a low, precise shot that flew into the net. The goal was more than an opener: it set a new South Korean football record.
Before the match, Son had scored 58 international goals, tying former national team coach Cha Bum-kun for the most in South Korean men’s football history. His goal against Uzbekistan took his tally to 59 and put him alone at the top.
The way Son approached the record across these four consecutive international matches was also striking.
Son scored his 57th goal with a free kick against Ecuador, then drew level with Cha Bum-kun by scoring his 58th against Uruguay. He finished the match against Venezuela without a goal, but found the net with another free kick in the final match against Uzbekistan to claim the record.
Notably, two of his three most recent goals, including his 59th, came from free kicks.
Having led South Korea’s attack for years, Son now has 59 international goals and the title of the South Korean men’s national team’s all-time leading scorer to his name.
By surpassing Cha Bum-kun’s long-standing mark of 58 goals, Son has put his name at the top of South Korean football’s scoring charts.
