Son Heung-min Faces Surgery Ahead of World Cup... National Team Emergency

Facial Fracture Surgery Takes 6-8 Weeks from Routine Operation to Rehabilitation
Bentuo Team Faces Serious Loss... Difficult to Recover Condition Even If Forced to Play

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Son Heung-min will undergo surgery for a facial fracture. His club, Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League (EPL), announced on their website on the 3rd (Korean time) that he will have surgery to stabilize a fracture around his left eye. Tottenham stated, "Son Heung-min will begin rehabilitation with the club's medical staff after the surgery," and added, "Further details will be shared at an appropriate time."

In cases of orbital fractures, it typically takes 6 to 8 weeks from surgery to rehabilitation. Accordingly, it is expected to be difficult for Son Heung-min, the captain of the South Korean national team, to participate in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The World Cup is set to begin on the 21st. Paulo Bento, the head coach of the South Korean national team, plans to announce the final squad of 26 players on the 12th and depart for the venue with the team in the early hours of the 14th. The first match is against Uruguay on the 24th.

As the central figure in attack and the team's spiritual pillar, Son Heung-min's absence would cause a serious loss to the national team's strength. Since the 2016-2017 season, Son has scored double-digit goals in official matches every season. In the 2021-2022 season, he shared the EPL Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) by scoring 23 goals, making new history for Asian football beyond South Korea.

Coach Bento has built tactics centered around Son Heung-min. He assigned roles to him in almost every attacking route, including disrupting defense, penetrating spaces, and corner kicks. No suitable replacement has been prepared to fill the gap, making a speedy recovery crucial.

If the fracture is complex, participation in the World Cup will be impossible. A representative example is Victor Osimhen, a forward and teammate of Kim Min-jae at Napoli. Last November, Osimhen underwent surgery to fix an orbital fracture with pins, and it took about three months for him to return. He still wears a mask while playing.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

If the fracture is simple, it is possible to play wearing a mask. The British BBC mentioned Kevin De Bruyne, a midfielder for Manchester City, when reporting Son Heung-min's injury. De Bruyne suffered fractures to his nose and eye area in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) final last May but joined the Belgian national team just ten days later to play in the 2020 UEFA European Championship. Although he missed the opening match, he played in the following match against Denmark, recording one goal and one assist.

Son Heung-min could potentially participate in the World Cup if he accelerates his recovery and protects his face with a mask. However, it is uncertain whether he can fully regain his condition, as he must rest from training during surgery and rehabilitation. Rushing back into matches could risk re-injury. Prioritizing health and his playing career means he cannot force an early recovery.

Son Heung-min collided strongly with Chancel Mbemba's shoulder while contesting an aerial ball during the final group stage match of the UEFA UCL against Marseille, France, the previous day. He suffered a nosebleed, and the area around his nose and eye swelled significantly. After medical staff assessed his condition, Son was substituted in the 27th minute of the first half.

Tottenham secured a 2-1 comeback victory to clinch a spot in the round of 16. After the match, Son Heung-min took a group photo with his teammates in the locker room. He wore a faint smile, but his left eye was swollen to the point he could barely open it.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.