Soccer star Son Heung-min’s secret to becoming a pro athlete

As the captain of the South Korean soccer team and forward for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, Son Heung-min has some knowledge of what it means to be a professional athlete.

In an interview with CNBC, Son shared his tips for becoming a pro and dealing with the pressure that comes with it.

“Do what you need to do, like sleep well, eat well, stay on the training ground when you need six, seven, eight hours,” he told CNBC’s Arabile Gumede in a video interview on Friday. rice field.

Song believes that sports should always be a priority, even with distractions everywhere.

“There are so many options, like video games, that you always want to do more, like playing with friends,” he said. “I think football should always be considered first.”

Song left South Korea at the age of 16 to join German football club Hamburger SV, making his first appearance in Europe’s top football league in 2010. in 2015 for £22 million ($26.9 million).

Son also mentioned some of the biggest lessons he’s learned from his career so far.

“I think the lesson is not to pursue your own happiness,” he told CNBC. Son believes that happiness can come from whatever is in front of you.

One of the key moments that made this clear was when he was injured just before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and was unsure if he could lead the South Korean football team to the best international competition. It was time His son had a fracture around his left eye and was forced to play with a protective face mask.

“I was there and I was playing with masks,” he said. “I’m a positive thinker, so I think that’s a lesson I learned. […] Happiness is the most important thing. ”

Another way Son says is dealing with the pressures of being a professional athlete. It’s about relying on your family and talking to them about your mental health.

“I’m sad. They’re sad too. We’re happy and we’re all happy,” he says. “You can always share your feelings. You can always go with your family.”