Son Heung-min is one of the best forwards on the planet. At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, you would not know it from watching his touch count.
South Korea’s captain and all-time leading appearance maker recorded just 37 touches against Czechia and 19 against Mexico in the group stage, the fewest of any South Korean starting outfield player in both matches. For a player of his caliber entering his fourth World Cup, those are numbers that demand an explanation.
What the numbers actually say
Against Czechia, Son was substituted after 69 minutes, which accounts for some of the reduced involvement. Against Mexico, the 19-touch total over a full appearance is harder to explain away tactically.
Son enters this tournament with 144 international caps and 56 goals for South Korea, figures that place him second on the country’s all-time scoring list. He has three World Cup goals across his previous three tournaments.
