Son Heung-min is probably the best player in Korean football history.
Even though he hasn’t won a Premier League title - like another Korean player, Ji-Sung Park, has - his skills and stats at Tottenham are notorious.
But on the international stage, there is one achievement that Son is desperate for - to win the Asian Cup, something South Korea hasn’t done since 1960.
The Son Heung Min GOLAZO that gave South Korea the lead 🤯
— Al Nassr Zone (@TheNassrZone) February 2, 2024
Son is also a Cristiano fan 😉
pic.twitter.com/UaZYm6yZXk
Son has had a long and storied career with his national team.
He was already a promising prospect, playing for the senior national team, when he decided not to join up with the South Korea U23s for the 2012 Olympics.
While Son made his first steps for Hamburg at the club level, his teammates won the bronze medal in London - a decision that could have changed his career path.
In the following years, Son missed out on opportunities to succeed with his national team.
At the 2014 World Cup, South Korea were knocked out in the group stage.
A few months later, Son played an important part in helping his country reach the Asian Cup final, including by scoring an extra time brace in the quarter-finals against Uzbekistan.
Once again, South Korea missed out on the continental title, losing to Australia 2-1 in the final.
Because of his previous strong showing, Son hoped to be a gamechanger for the next Olympic games, in 2016, as an overage player.
He scored two goals in the group stage, but South Korea were stunned by Honduras in the quarter-finals.
South Korea requires all men between the ages of 18 and 35 to perform compulsory military service.
Sports stars are among a number of groups of people that can be exempted from doing so, if they are seen as having promoted national prestige.
With the country performing so poorly at the Olympics, Son had not received an exemption, but there were still a number of options for the player.
Playing for a nation, a region and a generation of footballers. Son
In 2018, Son decided to join up with the U23s again, this time at the Asian Games.
Based on an agreement with Tottenham, Son joined the team at a later stage.
He scored only one goal in this tournament, in the group stage against Kyrgyzstan, but there was no doubt about how important it was for him.
In the quarter-finals against Uzbekistan - a turbulent match - the game was tied 3-3 after 90 minutes.
The Uzbeks were close to winning more than once, but then, in the 118th minute, the Koreans won a penalty.
Hwang Hee-chan, at the time a player for Red Bull Salzburg, took the shot and scored.
In one of the replays, you could see Son standing back, he couldn't even watch the shot.
South Korea won that match, and ultimately progressed to the final.
In that game, they beat Japan 2-1, sealing a third consecutive Asian Games gold medal.
For Son, it was also a confirmation of a military service exemption that would give him more time to spend in England.
He had to complete a short military training before the exemption was put in place, and he did so as one of the top performers.
Son is different in European football, where the leading clubs consider the international tournaments as less important.
But Son’s importance to the national team is well known by Tottenham - and the club have historically tried to find the best way for both sides to enjoy Son's skills.
On the other hand, he knows his role in a nation like South Korea.
🇰🇷 @sonny7 going on a solo lap of honour after completing pre-match media duties. A world class performance today from the Tottenham man. #AsianCup2023 #HayyaAsia #sonheungmin pic.twitter.com/oJfbVwJ484
— Mitch Freeley (@mitchos) February 2, 2024
He could be the superstar who comes for a few weeks of military training and still ends up as a top performer.
He couldn't be a true South Korean hero without giving back to his country, but he does it because he wants to, and not because he is trying to do something that will satisfy someone else.
For Son, winning the Asian Cup would be an achievement that would change the whole conversation about him.
It's not just about him or the national team, but about the next generation of Korean players.
Nice touch by Son here.
— Uri Levy (@Levyninho) January 20, 2024
Scores against Jordan and dedicates the goal to injured goalkeeper, Kim Seung-gyu, who torn the ACL after the first game in #AsianCup2023.
South Korea 🇰🇷 is serious in this tournament. Son is serious in this tournament.
pic.twitter.com/diCzibILru
Six years ago, he couldn't watch Hwang take a penalty at the Asian Games, and now they are both playing in the Premier League.
In the South Korea squad there are more proud Asian Games gold medallists, but none of them have yet won the top Asian tournament.
It is one of the leading football nations in Asia - they haven't missed a World Cup since 1986 - but more than six decades have passed since their last Asian Cup victory.
Son Heung-min will do anything to be the one to change that, but at the same time he reminds us of something bigger.
At a time where everyone wants to have their own part of the football world, clubs and national teams can be of the same importance.
For Son's career, the national team will definitely be a major part of it.
Cover image via the Korean Football Association official X account.
Best Footballer in Asia 2023: Son Heung-min has been chosen as the best Asian footballer of the past year. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/gFubYZDjcN
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) January 18, 2024
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