The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has identified South Korea's captain Son Heung-min as a key player to watch in the upcoming 2027 AFC Asian Cup, set to take place in Saudi Arabia next January.
On October 16, the AFC highlighted Son while introducing notable players from participating nations on its website. The organization noted that Son has scored a record 59 goals in international matches, the highest for any South Korean male player, and that he made his national team debut with a goal against India in the group stage of the 2011 Qatar Asian Cup. The AFC stated, "Son Heung-min has since established himself as one of the great players in Asian football."
At 34 years old, Son is preparing for what the AFC predicts will be his fifth and final attempt to lead South Korea to its first Asian Cup victory since 1960.
Son has participated in four consecutive Asian Cups, from the 2011 tournament in Qatar to the 2023 edition, but has yet to win the title, with a runner-up finish in the 2015 Australia tournament being his best result.
The AFC acknowledged that while Son has faced disappointment in the Asian Cup, he has built an impressive career as a representative of Asian football on the club stage. After stints with Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen, Son has played for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League since 2015, achieving numerous accolades, including a UEFA Champions League runner-up finish, the FIFA Puskás Award, and being the first Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot. He also contributed to Tottenham's UEFA Europa League victory in the 2024-2025 season.
The AFC emphasized that despite nearing the end of his playing career, Son's influence on the South Korean national team remains significant. He is expected to play a crucial role in the Asian Cup as he leads the team into his fourth World Cup at the 2026 North America tournament.
Since transferring to Major League Soccer's Los Angeles FC last summer, Son has continued to perform well. This season, he has recorded 7 goals and 15 assists in MLS, along with 2 goals and 7 assists in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, totaling 9 goals and 22 assists in official matches.
In the MLS match against Austin on October 15, Son scored one goal and provided two assists, helping his team secure a 3-1 victory. He was also named to the league's Team of the Matchday for the third time this season.
The 2027 AFC Asian Cup is scheduled to take place from January 7 to February 5 in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. However, concerns have been raised about the tournament's normal conduct due to recent attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen, which have damaged airports and energy facilities, contributing to instability in the region.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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