Son Heung-min, 34, of LAFC became South Korea's all-time leading men's international scorer. In a friendly against Uzbekistan at Mir Stadium in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 6, he scored in the sixth minute to reach 59 goals, one more than the 58 long held by former coach Cha Bum-kun, a figure that had stood as a symbol of Korean football.

The goal came from a free kick just outside the box. Son drove a low, fast direct shot under the wall and into a corner the goalkeeper could not reach. Instead of his trademark curler, he chose a near-grounded trajectory, and it paid off.

Korea doubled the lead in the 15th minute of the second half when Oh Se-hun headed in Song Min-gyu's cross, and won 2-0. Son was substituted for Lee Dong-gyeong in the 26th minute of the second half to a standing ovation.

15 years, 8 months, 20 days from a debut goal against India

Son's first international goal came against India at the Asian Cup in Qatar on Jan. 18, 2011, about 15 years, 8 months and 20 days before this one. Cha scored 58 in 136 matches, while Son has 59 in 151. Cha's scoring rate per match is higher, but Son has carried the national team's attack for far longer, across World Cup qualifiers, finals and Asian Cups.

Son had been level with Cha on 58 going into the match. Breaking the record was seen as a matter of time, but it carried extra weight because it happened in front of home fans and with the captain's armband on. Cha, a pioneer of Korean footballers in Germany's Bundesliga, set a mark that for decades looked like a wall.

Counting women as well, the national record remains Ji So-yun's 76 goals in 182 matches. What has been rewritten is the men's team record.

Four matches in Sept.-Oct.: two wins, one draw, one loss

Korea finished its four-match run of September and October with two wins, a draw and a loss: a 3-0 win over Ecuador, a 4-1 defeat to Uruguay, a 0-0 draw with Venezuela and then the win over Uzbekistan. The run showed both the gap to stronger sides and the ability to close out a match steadily.

Son stood out for more than the goal. On attack he pressed the opposing goalkeeper and defenders, and when needed he dropped back to help defend. As captain he urged teammates on throughout. How the team uses him in the November window and beyond, amid a generational handover, remains a question to be answered.

A third view: what the record does and does not say

The all-time international scoring record belongs to Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, and in Asia Iran's Ali Daei stands far above the rest. Next to them, Korea's 59 is not overwhelming on numbers alone. But football records carry different weight depending on matches played, opponents and era, so simple comparisons have limits. Some argue the record says most about how long Korean football has relied on one player. When the next generation of strikers will challenge it, and in what form, is tied to Korean football's long-term agenda.

For overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese families in Korea, the news feels a little different too. Korean football and the World Cup have made rare moments in which immigrants and locals sit in the same cheering section. Cheering the same scene regardless of nationality or origin may be the most lasting gift sport gives.