Size doesn't matter: How Korean captain Son Heung-min's small feet led him to success

It's not about how big they are, but how you use 'em. See the captain of the Korean national football team, Son Heung-min. Specifically, his feet.

Son, who is preparing for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North and Central America, wears relatively modest-sized shoes, ranging from 255 to 260 millimeters (10 to 10.2 inches, or U.S. men's 7.5 to 8) despite his solid 183-centimeter (6-foot) frame.

What is more astounding is that his feet, smaller than those of the average Korean adult man, have served as the foundation for his extraordinary performance on the pitch.

According to findings by the JoongAng Ilbo, Son prepares three different boot sizes — 255 mm, 260 mm and 265 mm — and chooses among them on match day depending on the condition of his feet and subtle changes in his physical state. His boots are custom-made with meticulous attention to his individual physical characteristics.

His preference for tight-fitting boots is similar to a golfer's emphasis on the feel of the ball at the moment it strikes the clubface. It is a deliberate choice aimed at maximizing sensation. Son wants to feel even the slightest friction through the nerve endings in his toes every time he touches the ball on the field.

The cost, however, is severe. His bare feet are reportedly in such rough condition that he is reluctant to show them to others. Toenails have fallen off, leaving dark bruises, while his feet are twisted and bent irregularly, much like those of a ballerina such as Kang Sue-jin.

Though they may appear unsightly, those feet are, in a sense, medals of honor symbolizing Son's blood, sweat and tears. They bear witness to the countless sprints and heavy tackles he has endured throughout his career. They are also evidence of the relentless repetition training he underwent as a child in Chuncheon, Gangwon, where he practiced 500 shots with each foot every day under the guidance of his father, Son Woong-jung.

His boots have evolved alongside his development as a player. Adidas, which has sponsored Son since 2008, when he was at Hamburg in Germany, has consistently introduced boots that have reflected his growth trajectory. Wearing the Adizero F50 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Son scored his first World Cup goal against Algeria.

At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, wearing the X 18+, Son famously sprinted 50 meters (164 feet) in just seven seconds — reaching a top speed of 32.83 kilometers (20.4 miles) per hour — before scoring against Germany, then ranked No. 1 in the FIFA world rankings.

At the Qatar World Cup four years ago, Son took the field in the laceless X Speedportal. Against Uruguay, he endured having his socks torn and his boots pulled off during physical challenges from defenders. He then provided the incisive through ball that set up Hwang Hee-chan's winning goal against Portugal, helping Korea advance to the round of 16.

Throughout his three World Cup appearances, a small Korean flag was always emblazoned on his boots.

For his fourth World Cup, Son is expected to wear the F50 Hyperfast Elite Laceless. Featuring a striking Solar Red colorway, the boot weighs just 130 grams (4.58 ounces) and incorporates an ultralightweight mesh upper and SpeedSystem technology designed to maximize traction and speed.

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

According to British newspaper The Sun, Son’s net worth stands at 74 million pounds ($100 million), ranking seventh among the 1,248 players expected to participate in the World Cup. He trails only global superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Lionel Messi, Neymar of Brazil, Kylian Mbappé of France, Harry Kane of England and Mohamed Salah of Egypt.

A fixture in advertisements for products ranging from coffee and pizza to beer, Son earns an annual salary of $11.15 million from the Los Angeles Football Club. He recently appeared in a global McDonald’s World Cup sponsorship campaign alongside Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry and David Beckham. Among active players, only Son and Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal were featured. McDonald’s has also released commemorative cups featuring Son’s trademark camera-click celebration.

The gap between Son’s powerful physique and his unusually knotted feet has been bridged not merely by natural talent but by relentless effort. Small in size yet capable of producing some of football’s most dangerous moments, Son’s feet appear ready to astonish the world once again.

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BY PARK LIN [[email protected]]