Five best Asian players in World Cup history
Global brand 1xBet looks back at five Asian footballers who excelled at Mundials.
Son Heung-min
Son Heung-min has represented the South Korea national team at three World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022). In his debut tournament in Brazil, he managed to open the scoring in a match lost to Algeria (2-4). On that occasion, the South Korean team performed poorly, earning only 1 point in the group stage and exiting the tournament early.
In 2018, Son Heung-min scored two goals in stoppage time. His accurate shot against Mexico helped the team avoid a goalless defeat. And in the last group stage game, the forward played a key role in the 2-0 victory over Germany, the reigning world champions at the time. South Korea once again failed to reach the knockout stage, but finished ahead of the Germans.
In Qatar, during the group stage, the Koreans had a balanced record: one win, one draw and one defeat, with 4 goals scored and 4 conceded. The Taegeuk Warriors finished ahead of the formidable Uruguay side due to additional criteria and advanced to the knockout stages from second place, but were defeated by Brazil in the round of 16.
At that World Cup, Son Heung-min played wearing a face mask that covered almost half of his face. South Korea’s leader didn’t score himself, but provided the assist for Hwang Hee-chan’s goal in the victorious match against Portugal (2-1).
Park Ji-sung
Park Ji-sung is part of the golden generation of South Korean footballers who reached the semi-finals at the 2002 World Cup on home soil. This remains the best result ever achieved by an Asian team at Mundials.
In 2002, Park Ji-sung wasn’t yet playing in Europe, but was regarded as a key figure in Guus Hiddink’s team. In the group stage, the tournament hosts finished top of their group, leaving two European sides, Poland and Portugal, out of the knockout stage. At the time, the Portugal squad boasted top-class stars such as Luís Figo and Rui Costa. However, the favorites lost 0-1, with Park Ji-sung scoring the only goal.
The South Korea national team then knocked out Italy, the Euro 2000 runners-up, and subsequently Spain, featuring Raúl. In the knockout stage, Park Ji-sung didn’t score from open play, but helped his team eliminate Spain by converting a penalty in the shootout.
Keisuke Honda
Keisuke Honda made his World Cup debut in 2010 in South Africa and helped the Japan national team advance to the knockout stage from a tough group. Honda’s goal gave Samurai Blue a narrow victory over Cameroon (1-0), while their convincing win against Denmark (3-1) began with his goal in the 16th minute. The round of 16 match against Paraguay ended 0-0 after regular and extra time. Keisuke didn’t miss in the penalty shootout, but the opponents proved luckier and moved on to the quarter-finals.
At the next World Cup in Brazil, Japan flopped, gaining only 1 point in their group, while Keisuke Honda scored one of his team’s two goals. His goal against Côte d’Ivoire was answered by goals from Wilfried Bony and Gervinho.
In 2018, the Japan national team made it to the knockout stage, and Honda’s goal against Senegal sealed the final score (2-2). In the round of 16, the players from the Land of the Rising Sun were leading 2-0 against Belgium until the 69th minute; the odds on their victory on the 1xBet online platform had dropped as low as possible, but in the end, Japan lost 2-3.
Hidetoshi Nakata
Hidetoshi Nakata took part in three World Cups (1998, 2002, 2006) and became one of the most memorable figures at the Mundial held on Japanese soil. On that occasion, the Japan team sensationally finished top of their group. In the round 3 match against Tunisia, Nakata scored the second goal to seal the victory (2-0), leaving the Belgians behind in the group standings.
In the round of 16, the Japanese didn’t face the toughest of opponents, but the team failed to beat Turkey at home.
Cha Bum-kun
This 1xBet review concludes with Cha Bum-kun, one of the best Asian players of all time.
In 1986, the South Korea national team qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 32 years. Back then in Mexico, Cha Bum-kun, who had spent most of his professional career in the Bundesliga, was the undisputed leader of his team. The Koreans made a decent impression in the group stage but finished bottom of Group A. However, despite their underdog status, they managed to score in every game, including against Argentina and Italy.
