Seoul: About to become the most-capped player in the history of the South Korean men’s national football team, Son Heung-min expressed his hope that the milestone will bring him joy and happiness. Son, currently tied with national team head coach Hong Myung-bo and former striker Cha Bum-kun at 136 caps, is set to make history by starting in the friendly against Brazil at 8 p.m. Friday at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Son, 33, debuted internationally on December 30, 2010, as a teenager. At a prematch press conference held at Seoul World Cup Stadium, Son shared his gratitude: “I’d like to thank everyone who has allowed me to play for the country for 15 years. I understand the meaning of donning the national flag. I’ve been able to grow both as a person and an athlete. I am thankful for the opportunity to make history while doing something I love.”

When asked about the personal significance of the record, Son commented, “If I take the field, I want to get the result I want, and I hope it will be the happiest day ever.”

South Korea’s record against Brazil includes only one victory out of eight encounters. Their last meeting was during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where South Korea suffered a 4-1 defeat. Son has been part of four of the seven losses against Brazil. Speaking about the upcoming match, Son said, “I think everyone on our team is excited to play a world-class team like Brazil and we can’t wait to get on the field. It will obviously be a difficult match for us, but I hope we get to learn a lot from it.”

Brazil underwent a coaching change this year, replacing Dorival Junior with Carlo Ancelotti after struggles in regional World Cup qualifiers. Son remarked on the importance of playing against Brazil, noting, “Many great teams experience difficulties during World Cup qualifiers, and Brazil also had some difficult situations with their coaching change. But to me, Brazil will always be a team fighting for the top spot in the FIFA rankings.”

As he prepares for his fourth and possibly final World Cup, Son emphasized the importance of meticulous preparation. “I’ve been disappointed with not being able to show my best possible performances, and we have to prepare thoroughly to eliminate those situations,” he said. “I’ve been talking with young players about that quite often. We have to challenge ourselves.”