South Korea's captain Son Heung-min returned home with his head down after what many considered his last chance at the FIFA World Cup.
Upon arriving at Incheon International Airport on July 1, Son's expression was somber. He walked past reporters, offering a brief apology that reflected the deep disappointment he felt from the tournament.
The North America tournament garnered significant attention as it was widely viewed as Son's final World Cup appearance. However, he finished the competition without registering a single point.
His playing time was also limited. He started in the opening match against the Czech Republic (a 2-1 victory) but was substituted in the 69th minute. In the second match against Mexico (a 1-0 loss), he left the field in the 57th minute. In the crucial third match against South Africa (a 1-0 loss), he was not in the starting lineup but came on as a substitute at the start of the second half, yet failed to score.
With Son's silence on the field, the South Korean team finished third in their group with one win and two losses, failing to advance to the knockout stage. Their final ranking of 34th marks the worst performance in South Korea's World Cup history.
In his previous three World Cups, Son scored a total of three goals (one in 2014 in Brazil and two in 2018 in Russia). Had he scored even one goal in this tournament, he could have claimed the record for the most goals by a South Korean player, surpassing the current joint record of three held by Ahn Jung-hwan and Park Ji-sung. However, the failure to advance also meant he missed this milestone.
Born in 1992, Son will be 38 years old at the next World Cup in 2030. Given his speed-based playing style, it is unlikely he will participate in another World Cup. His recent performance in Major League Soccer (MLS) has also been underwhelming, with eight assists but no goals in 13 matches this season.
However, age alone does not preclude participation in the World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) and Luka Modric (Croatia), both born in 1985, are 41 years old, while Lionel Messi (Argentina), born in 1987, is 39 and still performing at a high level.
Before the tournament, Son had downplayed the notion that this would be his 'last dance,' stating, "I never definitively said it would be my last World Cup."
Son's commitment to the national team remains strong. On June 30, he posted on social media, "Rather than expressing everything in words right now, I will do my best to turn the hearts of the people and soccer fans. I will strive to bring joy back to you. I have not forgotten the promises I made to the fans. Until you need me, I will pour everything into preparing well again."
The South Korean national team's next major event is the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, set to take place in Saudi Arabia in January. The team aims to reclaim the title for the first time in 67 years since 1960. Fans will be watching closely to see if Son can restore his honor on the Asian Cup stage.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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