Son Heung-min is closer than ever to becoming the highest-scoring player in South Korean men’s national-team history.
Son scored his 57th international goal in South Korea’s 3-0 victory over Ecuador on September 24, 2026, leaving him just one goal behind legendary striker Cha Bum-kun’s Korea Football Association record of 58.
That means Son needs one more goal to tie the record and two goals to break it outright.
He will have an immediate opportunity to reach the milestone when South Korea faces Uruguay in its next friendly on Monday, September 28. [Yonhap]
How Many Goals Does Son Heung-min Have For South Korea?
Son has scored 57 goals in 148 senior international appearances for South Korea.
| Rank | Player | Goals | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha Bum-kun | 58 | 136 |
| 2 | Son Heung-min | 57 | 148 |
| 3 | Hwang Sun-hong | 50 | 103 |
| 4 | Park Lee-chun | 36 | 89 |
| T-5 | Lee Dong-gook | 33 | 105 |
| T-5 | Kim Jae-han | 33 | 58 |
The Korea Football Association officially lists Cha at 58 goals and Son at 56 through July 1, 2026. Son’s September 24 goal against Ecuador increased his total to 57. [Korea Football Association] [Yonhap]
How Many Goals Does Son Need To Break The Record?
The math is simple:
- Son now: 57 goals
- Cha Bum-kun: 58 goals
- One more Son goal: 58 — record tied
- Two more Son goals: 59 — new South Korean men’s record
Son therefore could equal Cha in his very next international appearance and could potentially become the outright record holder during the same international window if he scores multiple goals.
How Did Son Heung-min Score His 57th Goal?
Son moved within one goal of the record with a spectacular direct free kick against Ecuador.
South Korea was leading 1-0 when it won a free kick near the left side of the penalty area in the 58th minute.
Son curled a right-footed shot from the difficult angle across goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez and into the far side of the goal to make it 2-0. [Sky Sports]
Oh Hyeon-gyu had scored four minutes earlier, and Lee Dong-gyeong later completed South Korea’s 3-0 victory.
The match was also the first under interim coach Robert Moreno following South Korea’s group-stage elimination from the 2026 World Cup. [Yonhap]
What Did Son Heung-min Say About The Record?
Son has repeatedly downplayed the personal milestone and emphasized South Korea’s results.
After scoring against Ecuador, Son said records tend to arrive naturally when he focuses on helping the national team.
He also credited teammate Kim Min-jae with encouraging him to shoot the free kick rather than play the ball into the penalty area. [Star News]
Son said that even if he eventually breaks the record, he would view it as the product of the teammates and coaches who have helped him throughout his international career.
Who Is Cha Bum-kun?
Cha Bum-kun is one of the most important players in South Korean soccer history.
Cha scored 58 goals in 136 appearances for South Korea between 1972 and 1986, according to Korea Football Association records. [Korea Football Association]
He also became one of the first Asian soccer stars to establish himself at the highest level of European club football.
Cha played in Germany for Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen and won the UEFA Cup with both clubs. FIFA described him ahead of the 2026 World Cup as South Korea’s record international scorer with 58 goals. [FIFA]
Why Are There Different Numbers For Cha Bum-kun’s Goals?
Some older statistical sources list a lower international total for Cha, which can make comparisons with Son confusing.
The Korea Football Association currently recognizes 58 goals in 136 matches. That total includes two goals from Olympic qualifying matches in 1976. [Korea Football Association]
Older FIFA statistical classifications did not count all of those Olympic qualifying appearances in exactly the same way and have previously produced lower totals for Cha.
For purposes of the South Korean national-team record, however, the KFA’s official benchmark is 58 goals. Contemporary Korean coverage and FIFA’s own 2026 profile of Cha also describe him as the record holder with 58. [FIFA]
When Did Son Heung-min Score His First South Korea Goal?
Son scored his first senior international goal against India during the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
He was only 18 years and 194 days old, making him one of the youngest goalscorers in South Korean national-team history. [Korea Football Association]
Son had made his senior international debut less than a month earlier, in December 2010.
More than 15 years later, he is now on the verge of becoming South Korea’s all-time leading scorer.
How Did Son Get From 54 Goals To 57?
Son entered the final stages of preparation for the 2026 World Cup with 54 international goals.
He then scored twice against Trinidad and Tobago in a May 30 World Cup warm-up, giving him Nos. 55 and 56 and moving within two goals of Cha’s record. [Reuters]
Son did not score during South Korea’s three World Cup group matches against Czechia, Mexico and South Africa.
He finally moved to 57 with his free kick against Ecuador in South Korea’s first post-World Cup match.
| Milestone | Opponent | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 54th Goal | Bolivia | 2025 |
| 55th Goal | Trinidad and Tobago | May 30, 2026 |
| 56th Goal | Trinidad and Tobago | May 30, 2026 |
| 57th Goal | Ecuador | September 24, 2026 |
Does Son Heung-min Already Hold South Korea’s Appearances Record?
Yes.
While Son is still chasing the goals record, he has already become South Korea’s most-capped men’s player.
His appearance against Ecuador was his 148th senior international cap.
Cha Bum-kun and former national-team coach Hong Myung-bo are tied behind him with 136 appearances under KFA statistics.
Son had already passed that mark before the 2026 World Cup. [Korea Football Association]
Did Son Heung-min Set Another Record Against Ecuador?
Son’s goal against Ecuador was also his eighth direct free-kick goal for the South Korean national team.
Korean media reported that the goal gave him the national-team record for direct free-kick goals across the country’s senior men’s and women’s teams. [Edaily]
The milestone was overshadowed by the larger chase of Cha’s all-time scoring record, but it further illustrates how much of Son’s international production has come from set pieces as well as open play.
When Can Son Heung-min Tie The Record?
Son’s next opportunity comes against Uruguay on Monday, September 28.
South Korea will host Uruguay at Seoul World Cup Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m. local time. [Yonhap]
If Son scores once, he will equal Cha Bum-kun at 58.
If he scores twice, Son will reach 59 and become the outright leading scorer in South Korean men’s national-team history.
Could Son Break The Record In 2026?
He has multiple opportunities remaining.
The Korea Football Association hired Moreno on an interim basis for six friendly matches scheduled from September through November, meaning the Ecuador match was only the first game of a longer post-World Cup international schedule. [Yonhap]
With Son needing only two additional goals to move ahead of Cha, the record could fall during one of those upcoming friendlies.
There is no guarantee, however. International matches are relatively infrequent, and South Korea’s coaches can also manage Son’s minutes depending on his club workload and physical condition.
Where Does Son Heung-min Play Now?
Son currently plays for Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer.
He joined LAFC in August 2025 after spending a decade with Tottenham Hotspur in England.
Son’s move to MLS did not end his role with the national team. He remained South Korea’s captain through the 2026 World Cup and continued wearing the armband in Moreno’s first game against Ecuador.
How Close Is Son Heung-min To The Record?
As of September 25, 2026, the answer is:
Son Heung-min has 57 South Korea goals. Cha Bum-kun holds the record with 58. Son needs one goal to tie the record and two to own it outright.
His next chance comes against Uruguay on September 28.
Son Heung-min Goals Record FAQ
How many goals has Son Heung-min scored for South Korea?
Son has scored 57 senior international goals for South Korea after scoring against Ecuador on September 24, 2026. [Yonhap]
Who is South Korea’s all-time leading goalscorer?
Cha Bum-kun holds the Korea Football Association record with 58 goals. [Korea Football Association]
How many goals does Son need to tie Cha Bum-kun?
One. Son’s next goal would give him 58 and tie Cha.
How many goals does Son need to break the record?
Two. Son would become the outright record holder when he reaches 59 international goals.
When does South Korea play next?
South Korea faces Uruguay at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Monday, September 28, 2026. [Yonhap]
How many games has Son played for South Korea?
Son has 148 senior international appearances and already holds South Korea’s men’s appearances record.
When did Son score his 57th goal?
He scored it on a direct free kick during South Korea’s 3-0 friendly victory over Ecuador on September 24, 2026.
What happens if Son scores against Uruguay?
If he scores once, he ties Cha Bum-kun’s record at 58. If he scores twice, he becomes South Korea’s outright all-time leading men’s international scorer with 59.
