'Maybe I would have quit if I was being selfish': Son says he neared breaking point after Asian Cup exit

Korea's Son Heung-min reacts after a 1-1 draw with Thailand in Thursday's 2026 World Cup qualifer at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul. [YONHAP]

Korean national team captain Son Heung-min admitted he was “on the verge of retiring from the national team” after the Asian Cup.

After Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against Thailand at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul, Son was asked about his desire to continue his national team career.

Son previously said that he would have to consider whether he would be able to continue playing for the national team after Korea’s semifinal loss to Jordan at the Asian Cup on Feb. 6.

“It is a very tough question, but as I said at the time, I never took playing for the national team for granted,” Son said on Thursday. “I have always been thankful and honored, and this is my second time saying it but maybe I would have quit if I was being selfish.

“I was on the verge of doing so. I talked to retired players, spoke with them and sought a lot of advice from them. They gave me some candid responses. Those discussions helped me.”

Son, 31, made his senior national team debut in 2010 and has made 122 caps since then, during which he scored 44 goals and competed at three Asian Cups in 2015, 2019 and 2024 and three World Cups in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

Korea, however, saw little success during that stint, failing to win all three Asian Cups and only reaching the round of 16 at the World Cup once in 2022.

The failure to win the Asian Cup this year was an especially disappointing result, as Korea had a star-studded squad that included Europe-based footballers like Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain and Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich.

Son has never discussed when he intends to retire from national duty, but he made it clear on Thursday that it is back off the cards.

“I wish I could grow into a mentally stronger person, so that I won’t have such a weak thought again in the future,” Son said. “As long as I can help the national team and the team needs me, I will play put my head down and play.”

Son will be back in national team action for Korea’s away game against Thailand on Tuesday, following a 1-1 draw last week.

Son scored Korea's sole goal in Thursday's match.

BY KIM EUN-BIN, PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]