South Korea striker Son is Messi and Ronaldo rolled into one

MANCHESTER, England: When Son Heung-min went down clutching his face in a recent Champions League match, the pain was not confined to the Tottenham striker’s fractured eye socket. The shockwaves were felt all the way back in his homeland of South Korea, where the nation collectively feared the worst ahead of the World Cup. Son is his country’s Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo wrapped up into one.

He is an immense source of national pride — having established himself as one of the leading soccer players in the world — and the greatest hope of success going into Qatar. His injury in the match against Marseille was big news back home, with one publication describing it as “Korea’s big emergency.” Tottenham later confirmed Son would require surgery, but no timeframe has been placed on his recovery. If he is to play any part in the World Cup, which starts on Nov.

20, it seems certain he will require a protective mask. It’s a cruel blow for a player who, at the age of 30, is at his peak going into the tournament. Last season, Son shared the Premier League’s Golden Boot with Liverpool forward Mo Salah as the leading scorers.

He has not been as prolific this season, but there have still been highlights, including a hat trick against Leicester in September and two goals against Eintracht Frankfurt. Qatar was an opportunity for him to reach new heights. Son is a player who is constantly setting new benchmarks — dating back to when he first headed to Europe to join Hamburg’s academy in Germany in 2008.

Marcell Jansen is now the club’s president, but back then he was a teammate and watched the forward’s early steps. “I was immediately impressed by his mentality and attitude,” Jansen told The Associated Press. “He would always