South Korean national soccer team captain Son Heung Min (Tottenham Hotspur) hinted at the possibility of retiring from international duty after expressing frustration over his team’s 1-1 draw against Palestine.
On Tuesday, under the guidance of head coach Hong Myung Bo, the South Korean national team played against Palestine at the Amman International Stadium in Jordan in the sixth match of the AFC third-round qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
South Korea conceded the opening goal in the 12th minute of the first half due to a backpass error by Kim Min Jae, which allowed Zaid Kounbar to score for Palestine. However, Son quickly equalized with a stunning right-footed strike. Despite multiple attempts, South Korea could not score again, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Following the game, South Korea earned one point, bringing their total to 4 wins and 2 draws (14 points), and they maintained their position atop Group B. Son Heung Min’s goal marked his 51st international goal, surpassing Hwang Sun Hong (50 goals) to become the second-highest scorer in South Korean men’s national team history.
Despite the milestone, it was not a celebration game. The South Korean squad left with a strong regret for failing to defeat Palestine, the lowest-ranked team in the group.
Hong’s team’s performance starkly contrasted with their dominant 3-1 victory over Kuwait just five days earlier, in which they showcased a flawless level of play.
Son Heung Min also displayed clear signs of disappointment. After being named Man of the Match (MOM) and attending the post-match press conference, he said, “I don’t place much significance on being named MOM. I’m more disappointed because it was a game we should have won, but we drew.”
He continued, “I want to give credit to Palestine. Today’s game wasn’t easy,” adding, “Despite the challenging circumstances, they seemed to understand the game plan well. There are things we can learn from this, and we’ll focus on improving and showing better performances in the future.”
Son Heung Min once again hinted at the possibility of retiring from the national team, drawing attention to his evolving perspective. Having dealt with various controversies, both within the team and in his personal life, along with recurring injuries, Son appears to be reflecting more seriously on his international future.
“It has been an honor to play so many matches this year,” Son said. “But records aren’t my focus right now. I think more about making plays that help the team.”
He added, “I feel like I’ve been operating at about 97-98% this year. If I can address those small areas of improvement, I believe I’ll be able to retire from the national team when I’ve achieved 100% satisfaction with my career.”
Son concluded, “Looking ahead to next year, I hope we can come together as a team to bring joy to our fans and create special memories for ourselves.”
This isn’t the first time Son has raised the possibility of retirement. In June, he expressed uncertainty about how long he could continue with the national team, saying, “I need to consider my future with the national team. The coach may decide it’s time for a change.”
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