59% of Citizens Say "Son Heung-min Was the Most Outstanding Player in the World Cup"

Korea Gallup Survey of 1,001 Adults Aged 18+
Cho Gyu-seong 20%, Hwang Hee-chan 19%, Lee Kang-in 18%
"Enjoyed Thanks to World Cup" 71%... Higher Than Olympics

In the third match of Group H in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the South Korean national team secured a victory against Portugal, advancing to the round of 16. After the match ended, Son Heung-min sat down on the ground, clenching his fist tightly. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lee Gyehwa] Six out of ten Koreans chose Son Heung-min (30, Tottenham) as the most impressive player at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Korea Gallup announced that from November 13 to 15, a survey of 1,001 people aged 18 and older nationwide asked who was the most impressive player at the Qatar World Cup domestically and internationally, and 59% selected Son Heung-min. The survey allowed respondents to freely select two players.

Despite undergoing surgery for an orbital fracture injury, Son Heung-min played full-time in all World Cup matches and led the Korean national team to the round of 16.

Korea Gallup explained, "Son Heung-min was considered the most anticipated player on the Korean national football team just before the World Cup," adding, "He is a beloved star who has ranked first for six consecutive years in the annual 'Sportsman of the Year' survey."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The World Cup has influence across all generations

Jo Gyu-seong (25, Jeonbuk Hyundai), who scored Korea's first multi-goal in the group stage second match against Ghana, ranked second with 20%, Hwang Hee-chan (26, Wolverhampton), who scored the winning goal against Portugal, ranked third with 19%, and Lee Kang-in (21, Mallorca) ranked fourth with 18%.

Following them were Lionel Messi (11%, Argentina), Kylian Mbapp? (France), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Neymar (Brazil, all 4%), Kim Min-jae (3%, Napoli), Baek Seung-ho (Jeonbuk), Kim Young-gwon (Ulsan, all 1%), Hwang In-beom (Olympiacos), and Yassine Bounou (Morocco, all 0.5%).

When asked whether life was more enjoyable thanks to the Qatar World Cup, 71% responded "It was enjoyable." During the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the percentage who answered "enjoyable" was only in the 50% range.

Korea Gallup analyzed, "World Cup soccer appears to have influence across all generations, more so than the Olympics."

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