▲ South Korean national football team captain Son Heung-min gives an interview at the Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman, Utah, on the afternoon of May 26 (local time).
South Korean national football team captain Son Heung-min has been named one of the "26 stars to watch" at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by Yahoo Sports in the United States.
Two days before the start of the North and Central American World Cup, Yahoo Sports introduced 26 global stars representing their respective countries, including Son.
Regarding Son, the mainstay forward of the South Korean national team, Yahoo Sports noted, "The former Tottenham winger, who has played two seasons for LAFC in Major League Soccer, enters the World Cup suffering from a goal drought." The outlet added, "Son has provided 9 assists in 14 league matches this season, but unlike last season when he scored 9 goals in 10 league matches, he has yet to find the back of the net this season."
However, Yahoo Sports predicted that "if Son regains his scoring touch, South Korea will have a very good chance of advancing through the group stage," suggesting that the nation's fate rests on the feet of the global star.
Son, who was proudly selected for the "First 11" to compete in the MLS All-Star Game in July following the World Cup, is set to appear on his fourth World Cup stage. With just one more goal, he will set a new record for the most World Cup goals by a South Korean player, reaching a total of 4.
Yahoo Sports also highlighted other players to watch, including "God of Football" Lionel Messi of Argentina, English playmaker Jude Bellingham, England's "scoring machine" Harry Kane, France's Ousmane Dembélé—who swept the Ballon d'Or and FIFA The Best Men's Player award last year—and Spain's 18-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal, who is heading into his first World Cup.
For Group A, where South Korea will compete for a spot in the Round of 32, the outlet pointed to key players from rival nations, including Mexico's veteran striker in his 30s, Raúl Jiménez, and 17-year-old rising star Gilberto Mora, who will anchor the Mexican midfield.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.