South Korean players account for three of the top positions in the 2026 rankings of Asia’s best soccer players, underscoring the country’s growing influence in the sport.

According to rankings released by MadFootball, Son Heung-min, now with Los Angeles FC, was named Asia’s top player, maintaining his dominance despite his move from the English Premier League to Major League Soccer.

Bayern Munich center back Kim Min-jae ranked second, while Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in placed fourth.

Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton & Hove Albion ranked third, followed by compatriot Ayase Ueda of Feyenoord in fifth and Uzbekistan’s Abdukodir Khusanov of Manchester City in sixth.

The strong showing highlights South Korea’s deep talent pool ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reinforcing expectations that the current national team could be among the strongest in its history.


don@heraldcorp.com