Son Heung-min Becomes South Korea's All-Time Men's International Goal Scorer

Son Heung-min scored his 59th international goal on October 6, 2026, in a friendly match against Uzbekistan at Yongin Mireu Stadium, surpassing former striker Cha Bum-kun's previous record of 58 goals. The 34-year-old Los Angeles FC player netted a free kick in the sixth minute of the match, which South Korea won 2-0, with Oh Se-hun adding a second goal in the 60th minute.

Son's record-breaking goal marked a historic achievement for South Korean football. The milestone came in his 151st international appearance, establishing him as South Korea's all-time leader in both international caps and goals. Son had drawn level with Cha's goal record in a match against Uruguay the previous week, requiring two additional matches to claim outright possession of the scoring record.

The goal represents the culmination of a sustained international career spanning 16 years. Son made his international debut on December 30, 2010, against Syria, and scored his first goal on January 18, 2011, against India during the AFC Asian Cup. He has represented South Korea at four FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026) and four Asian Cups (2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023). At the club level, Son has scored 301 total goals across all competitions, including 242 goals in his professional career with Hamburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham Hotspur, and Los Angeles FC.

The victory over Uzbekistan concluded an international break for South Korea under interim coach Robert Moreno that included mixed results: a 3-0 win against Ecuador, a 4-1 loss to Uruguay, and a 0-0 draw with Venezuela. South Korea and Uzbekistan are both preparing for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, scheduled to begin January 7, 2027, in Saudi Arabia. Women's international player Ji So-yun holds South Korea's overall all-time goal record with 76 goals in 182 appearances.