▲(Source=Tottenham Official Instagram)
‘Captain’ Son Heung-min (Tottenham), who finished the match against Thailand with a 3-0 win, shared his thoughts after sharing a warm hug with Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain).
In the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asia 2nd Qualifying Group Stage 4 away game against Thailand held at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on the 26th (Korean time), Son Heung-min scored an additional goal with an assist from Lee Kang-in in the 9th minute of the second half.
Korea ended the first half with a 1-0 lead thanks to a joint goal by Lee Kang-in and Son Heung-min, and widened the gap to 2-0. Lee Kang-in hugged Son Heung-min and shared a warm hug.
Then, in the 37th minute of the second half, Kim Min-jae (Munich) headed a cross from Kim Jin-soo (Jeonbuk Hyundai), and Park Jin-seop finished it with a shot, scoring a 3-0 goal.
After winning 3-0, Son Heung-min met with reporters and said, “We met (against Thailand) a few days ago, and the content was satisfactory, but as the game was tied, the negative attention gave us anxiety.” He added, “In hot weather and in a difficult environment. “We had a good game thanks to the players’ dedication and effort. It feels really good. You could clearly see it today. We played as a team. I’m happy that we won without conceding a goal,” he said.
About the part where he hugged Lee Kang-in after scoring, “Many people were worried. When you play soccer, there can be fights because everyone is greedy. Lee Kang-in deserves more love and will grow into a great player and person.” “I’m % confident,” he said. “I’ve said it all the time, but Lee Kang-in has outstanding skills and abilities, and he is a player who will lead Korean soccer. Now that he knows that 50 million people will see his every move, he will develop further.”
He laughed and said, “It’s been a while since I hugged Lee Kang-in, and he’s so cute. I’m proud of him.”
He continued, “The game was clearly not easy. The game was played in difficult conditions. Even in the midst of this, if it had not been for the players’ efforts, it would have been difficult in this hot and humid weather and on grass with a different environment.” “I played well. I hope this atmosphere continues,” he added.
Lee Kang-in, who shocked the soccer world with the so-called “ping pong gate” when he physically clashed with Son Heung-min during the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, soothed angry fans with his “golden left foot.”