The Fighting Spirit of Captain Zorro in Qatar

Son Heung-min, captain of the South Korean national football team playing in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, trains with his teammates wearing a black mask at the Al Egla training facility in Doha, Qatar on November 16. Kwon Do-hyun, Doha

Zorro, well-known to the public through books, films, and animations, was a hero who fought against the tyranny of a Spanish ruler when the U.S. state of California was ruled by Spain in the early 1800s. Donning a black mask and cape, he is known to leave behind the alphabet Z as his signature.

The hero, Zorro has appeared in the South Korean national football team ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The black cape might be missing, but he wears a black mask along with the red uniform symbolizing the national team. The hero behind this mask, which has become a symbol of his fighting spirit to overcome his injury, is the team’s captain, Son Heung-min (30, Tottenham). In the upcoming World Cup games, Son Heung-min will be Captain Zorro and lead the South Korean football team.

In a press conference after training at the Al Egla training grounds in Doha, Qatar, the South Korean team’s base, on November 16, Son Heung-min said, “I continued to train separately in my football club even before I came here. Today was my first training with the national team, and it felt like the training I had with my club.” He also said, “I continued to speak with my club and the national team. Things went well today too, nothing different.”

On Wednesday, Son took part in the training wearing a black carbon mask made by Tottenham. It was to protect his face, which had not fully recovered, since it was not yet two weeks since he received surgery for facial fractures. Son Heung-min in a black mask reminded one of Zorro. On the side of the mask, Son’s number seven was written in white. During training, Son often fingered his mask, perhaps because it was uncomfortable. But Son said, “It’s more comfortable than I expected. Other than the fact that I sweat a lot because of the hot weather here, I don’t find it uncomfortable.” He also explained, “It probably looked like I was touching my mask a lot because on some days it’s swollen and others it’s not, and I have to adjust the shape accordingly.”

Other than the mask, Son Heung-min was his usual self with the national team. After warming up with his teammates, he went for a light run and then paired with Jeong Woo-yeong (Freiburg) to practice passes. According to the representative of the Korea Football Association, after this, Son conducted a separate recovery training with Kim Jin-su (Jeonbuk) and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton).

Son said, “I took a break from training for about ten days due to the injury. I was able to spend some time recharging in terms of my condition.” He further said, “They say surgery can really ruin your body, but I’m not worried since they said the surgery went well. I can’t head the ball yet, but I trained up until two days before coming to Qatar, and there was nothing wrong with my sprint. I think there is no problem with my physical condition right now.”

Son Heung-min speaks on his physical condition at the Al Egla training facility in Doha, Qatar on November 16. A surgical scar can be seen over his left eye. Kwon Do-hyun, Doha

Many fans are wondering if Son Heung-min will play in the World Cup games. Some expressed their wishes for Son not to participate in the match. Son is well aware of this, but at present, he has no choice but to be more careful. Son said, “I’m not a doctor. If I knew when I would be able to play, I would be the first to tell you. All I can say right now is that I am doing my best in what I can do.” “My fans might think it is rash for me to play in a match, but football players always run with such risks. If I can give the smallest hope to my fans, then I’m willing to take that risk,” he stressed.

After the surgery, Son wrote on social media that he would play if there was a 1% chance. It was the same even after he arrived in Qatar. Son said, “I don’t like the word if. Still, my thoughts remain unchanged, and I still think that. Even if my chances are less than 1%, if I have a chance, I will keep my eyes on that chance and run.” Zorro in the fiction turned impossible situations into the possible after overcoming all kinds of adversities. Son Heung-min is also challenging his odds head on.