Son Heung-min is one of the best forwards on the planet. At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, you would not know it from watching his touch count.

South Korea’s captain and all-time leading appearance maker recorded just 37 touches against Czechia and 19 against Mexico in the group stage, the fewest of any South Korean starting outfield player in both matches. For a player of his caliber entering his fourth World Cup, those are numbers that demand an explanation.

What the numbers actually say

Against Czechia, Son was substituted after 69 minutes, which accounts for some of the reduced involvement. Against Mexico, the 19-touch total over a full appearance is harder to explain away tactically.

Son enters this tournament with 144 international caps and 56 goals for South Korea, figures that place him second on the country’s all-time scoring list. He has three World Cup goals across his previous three tournaments.

The tactical shift behind the numbers

The reduced touch counts are not entirely accidental. Reports from the tournament suggest Son’s role has evolved into a more centralized position compared to his earlier World Cup appearances, where he operated predominantly from wide areas and used his pace against full-backs.

South Korea won their opener against Czechia 2-1. Mexico and Czechia both knew where Son was at all times, and their defensive structures reflected that knowledge.

What this means for South Korea’s World Cup

Son’s fourth World Cup is also almost certainly his last. He turned 34 in July 2026, and the window for a meaningful World Cup run is closing.

The 2-1 win over Czechia bought the coaching staff some room to experiment. A positive result means the pressure to immediately overhaul the system is lower, which is both a relief and a risk. Relief because it allows measured adjustments rather than panic changes. Risk because a system that produced a win, even a win where the captain barely touched the ball, is harder to argue against in a tournament environment where stability is prized.