Son becomes South Korea's all-time leading scorer with his 59th goal

YONGIN, SOUTH KOREA - OCTOBER 06: Heungmin Son of South Korea controls the ball during the international friendly match between South Korea and Uzbekistan at Yongin Mireu Stadium on October 06, 2026 in Yongin, South Korea.
Joo Yongseong / Getty Images Sport / Getty

YONGIN, South Korea (AP) — Son Heung-min became South Korea’s all-time leading scorer when his 59th goal helped the team beat Uzbekistan 2-0 in a friendly on Tuesday.

The sixth-minute free kick moved Son past Cha Bum-kun’s record of 58. Cha retired from international soccer after the 1986 World Cup.

Oh Se-hun added a second goal on the hour as South Korea won comfortably at Mireu Stadium in Yongin, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Seoul.

Son also holds South Korea’s appearance record with 151 caps. He made his international debut in 2010 and has played at four World Cups.

The 34-year-old joined Los Angeles FC in 2025 after a decade with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

The win ended a mixed international break for South Korea and interim coach Robert Moreno. The team beat Ecuador 3-0, lost to Uruguay 4-1 and drew with Venezuela 0-0.

South Korea and Uzbekistan are preparing for the 2027 Asian Cup which kicks off in Saudi Arabia on Jan. 7.

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