(LEAD) Son Heung-min becomes all-time S. Korean men's goals leader

YONGIN, South Korea, Oct. 6 (Yonhap) -- Son Heung-min became the all-time male goals leader in South Korean football Tuesday, netting his 59th marker in a friendly against Uzbekistan.

Son scored a free kick goal in the sixth minute at Yongin Mireu Stadium in Yongin, about 40 kilometers south of Seoul.

Son, 34, broke a tie with former striker Cha Bum-kun. Son drew level with Cha with a goal against Uruguay last Monday and needed just two more matches to become the new record holder.

Son is already the most-capped male player with 151 appearances.

Son took two more free kicks in the match, with his 48th-minute attempt forcing a tough save by goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov.

Son was subbed out in the 71st minute, as South Korea went on to win the contest 2-0.

Son said afterward he was "getting emotional" just thinking about the path he had taken to reach this point.

"I have never once taken my spot on the national team for granted," he said. "It has been thanks to my teammates and coaches that I have been able to score so many goals, but above all, I owe it to my fans for their unwavering support.

"It is not just the goals that are important. Every moment I have spent with the national team has been precious," Son continued. "I don't know how much longer I will get to do this. But whenever I put the national team shirt on, I will do the best I can and make our fans proud."

Son said he was happier with the two-goal, clean-sheet victory than with his monumental goal.

"This has been a great day. We scored twice and didn't concede any goal. I am most pleased about that," he said. "This has been a physically demanding stretch of four matches over the past couple of weeks, but I really enjoyed playing four matches in a row at home. There were times when we let our fans down, but I am glad to have wrapped it up with a victory."

Son made his international debut on Dec. 30, 2010, against Syria, and scored his first goal against India on Jan. 18, 2011, during the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup.

He has represented South Korea at FIFA World Cups in 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026, and has also played at the 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 Asian Cups.

Ji So-yun, a longtime women's national team star, is South Korea's all-time leader with 76 goals in 182 appearances.