"Twilight period? Absolutely not — Son Heung-min is still the sun of Asia!". Captain Son Heung-min (34, LAFC), who is wreaking havoc in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States, was selected as the undisputed No. 1 most successful Asian footballer as of 2026.
The global sports outlet Sports Digest on the 3rd (Korean time), based on February 2026, announced the "four most successful players" who have dominated Asia in every respect of skill and career.
The outlet's first pick was, unsurprisingly, Son Heung-min. Leaving behind his great journey at Tottenham Hotspur and igniting the final blaze of his career at LAFC, Son remained "Asia's number one." The outlet praised, "Son Heung-min is the first Asian player to win the Premier League golden boot and a Puskás Award winner. He is one of the greatest players in Tottenham history, and even at 34 he exerts overwhelming influence for both MLS and the Korea national team."
Second place was also claimed by a Korean. Kim Min-jae, a defensive pillar at Bayern Munich, made the list. Having won Serie A's defender of the year during his Napoli days and entered the world-class ranks, he lifted the Bundesliga title with Munich and was recognized as the greatest Asian center back in history. The outlet explained, "Kim Min-jae is the pride of Asian defense fully deserving to follow Son Heung-min."
Third and fourth places went to Japan's Mitoma Kaoru (BRIGHTEN) and Iran's Mehdi Taremi (FC Porto). Mitoma was highly rated for his performances in the Europa League and his World Cup impact, and Taremi was recognized for his championship-winning career accumulated as Porto's starting striker and for achievements such as reaching the Champions League quarterfinals.
The most shocking point for domestic fans was the omission of Lee Kang-in. After moving to Paris Saint-Germain, Lee Kang-in lifted numerous trophies including the Champions League and built the most glittering "winning resume" among Asian players. But the outlet's view was cold. The outlet seemed to regard the fact that "Lee Kang-in has not firmly established himself as a regular starter at PSG" as a decisive demerit. While team championships are important, this result reflects the typical criteria of U.S. outlets that prioritize a player's personal "influence" and "starting position."
Ultimately, the harsh assessment is that no matter how many trophies a player wins, they can dim if they fail to evolve from a "versatile rotation option" into the "core of the team." If a top five had been selected, Lee Kang-in likely would have been included, but for now he is edged out by consistent game dominators like Mitoma and Taremi.
Son Heung-min and Kim Min-jae, who still shine at the pinnacle of Asian football, and Lee Kang-in, who faces the task of becoming a "regular starter." The divergent assessments of Korea's football stars racing toward the 2026 World Cup in North America are sparking heated debates among fans.
[OSEN]