Son Heung-min's secret

Son Heung-min's smaller-than-average feet are actually the foundation for his extraordinary performances on the pitch.

Son Heung-min has smaller-than-average foot size for adult South Korean men. Photo: Reuters .

Standing at 1.83m tall and possessing a muscular physique, Son Heung-min, the captain of the South Korean national team, surprised many with his relatively small shoe size, only 255-260 mm (equivalent to EU size 38, or US size 7.5-8).

But what's even more astonishing is that Son's feet—smaller than the average size of an adult Korean man's feet—are the foundation for his extraordinary performances on the pitch, according to Korea JoongAng Daily .

Deformed legs

According to JoongAng Ilbo , Son prepares three different shoe sizes – 255 mm, 260 mm, and 265 mm – and chooses one pair on match day, depending on the condition of his feet and minor changes in his physical state. The 34-year-old striker's shoes are custom-made with meticulous attention to his individual physical characteristics.

The South Korean soccer star's preference for tight-fitting shoes is similar to a golfer's focus on the feel of the ball the moment it hits the clubface.

It was a deliberate choice aimed at maximizing sensation. Son wanted to feel even the slightest friction through the nerve endings in his toes every time he touched the ball on the pitch.

However, the price to pay is very high.

According to accounts, Son's bare feet were in such a terrible condition that he didn't want anyone to see them. His toenails had fallen off, leaving behind bruises, while his feet were twisted and abnormally bent, resembling the feet of ballet dancer Kang Sue-jin.

Son Heung-min's bare feet are deformed and bruised from training and competition. Photo: JoongAng Ilbo.

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Although they may not look aesthetically pleasing, those legs, in a sense, are a "medal of honor" symbolizing Son's blood, sweat, and tears.

They are testament to the countless bursts of speed and fierce tackles he has made throughout his career. They are the result of the relentless, repetitive training he underwent as a child in Chuncheon, Gangwon – where he practiced 500 shots a day with each foot under the guidance of his father, Son Woong-jung.

Wonder

Son's shoes have also been improved in parallel with his progress in his football career.

Adidas, Son's sponsor since 2008, when he played for Hamburg in Germany, has consistently released shoes that reflect the development of the striker born in 1992. Wearing the Adizero F50 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Son scored his first World Cup goal against Algeria.

At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Son set a record for sprinting 50 meters in just 7 seconds – reaching a top speed of 32.83 km/h – before scoring against Germany, who were then ranked number 1 in the world according to the FIFA rankings.

Son chose tight-fitting shoes, which put a lot of pressure on his feet.

At the World Cup in Qatar four years ago, Son took to the field wearing laceless X Speedportal boots. In the match against Uruguay, he suffered from torn socks and slipping boots during intense challenges with defenders. He then delivered a sharp pass that led to Hwang Hee-chan's decisive goal against Portugal, helping South Korea advance to the round of 16.

In all three of his World Cup appearances, a small South Korean flag was always attached to his boots.

For his fourth World Cup, Son is expected to wear the F50 Hyperfast Elite Laceless boots. Featuring a striking Solar Red colorway, the boots weigh only 130 grams and incorporate a super-light mesh upper along with SpeedSystem technology designed to maximize grip and speed.

Although Son is now 34 years old and past the typical peak of a footballer's career, his influence transcends anything that can be measured by the size of his feet.

Son Heung-min's net worth is estimated at around $100 million , ranking him 7th among the 1,248 players expected to participate in the World Cup. He is only behind global superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Lionel Messi of Argentina, Neymar of Brazil, Kylian Mbappé of France, Harry Kane of England, and Mohamed Salah of Egypt.

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Son is a familiar face in commercials for many famous brands. He receives an annual salary of $11.15 million from the Los Angeles soccer club.

Recently, he appeared in McDonald's global World Cup sponsorship campaign alongside Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, and David Beckham. Among the active players, only Son and Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal were included. McDonald's also released commemorative mugs featuring Son's signature "camera-clicking" celebration.

The gap between Son's muscular physique and his abnormally shaped legs has been narrowed not only by his natural talent but also by his relentless efforts.

Despite his small stature, those feet have the ability to create some of the most dangerous moments in football. At this World Cup, Son's feet seem ready to amaze the world once again.

Source: https://znews.vn/bi-mat-cua-son-heung-min-post1658037.html