"I can't believe a player like Son Heung-min noticed me." Mexican national team player moved by Son's thoughtfulness

*This content was translated by AI.

South Korea national football team captain Son Heung-min (34·LAFC) deeply moved a Mexican national team midfielder. Merely being recognized and receiving words of encouragement after the match became an unforgettable joy for the player, offering a clear glimpse of Son Heung-min's standing as a true "world-class" athlete.

According to local media including Fox Sports Mexico and Mexican outlet La Opinion on the 17th (Korea time), Mexico national team midfielder Erick Lira (26·Cruz Azul) revealed his conversation with Son Heung-min immediately after the second leg of the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals held on the 15th at Cuauhtémoc Stadium in Puebla, Mexico.

Lee said, "After the game, Son Heung-min came over to me and offered words of comfort, telling me, 'Let's meet at the World Cup,' and added, "I was truly Gi Ppeu-go (Auditor) that a player of such importance in the football world recognized me not only as a player but also as a human being."

At the time, LAFC drew 1-1 with Cruz Azul and won the second leg with an aggregate score of 4-1, advancing to the tournament semifinals. Later, Son Heung-min spoke directly with Lira, offering not only condolences regarding the tournament outcome but also the words "Let's meet again at the World Cup," which deeply moved the player.

Lira, who has been playing for the Mexican national team since 2021, had no particular connection with Son Heung-min, as he has played only in the Mexican league for clubs such as Necaxa, UNAM, and Cruz Azul since his debut in 2019. Nevertheless, Son Heung-min, aware in advance that Lira is a key player for the Mexican national team, conveyed messages of comfort and support to him after the match.

For Lira, who is a strong candidate to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, there was no choice but to be moved by the actions of "star" Son Heung-min, who has long been active on the European stage. Ultimately, he revealed the content of his conversation with Son Heung-min through a local interview, and Lira's admiration for Son Heung-min was fully conveyed to the local audience through media reports.

However, a fierce showdown between Son Heung-min and Lira on the World Cup stage is inevitable. Son Heung-min is a forward, while Lira is a defensive resource who plays as a defensive midfielder and center back. South Korea and Mexico will clash in the second match of Group A of the World Cup group stage, held at 10 a.m. on the 19th in Guadalajara, Mexico. La Fision stated, "Son Heung-min is one of the most experienced players on the South Korean national team, serving as a key player and captain," and added, "Lira is a starting player for the Mexican national team, which is led by coach Javier Aguirre. He is a player with a high probability of making the final World Cup roster."

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*This content was translated by AI.