Why are South Korea star Son Heung-min and others wearing masks at the World Cup?

Is it Batman? Is it Superman? No, it’s Son Heung-min flying down the wing for South Korea.

You’d be forgiven for mistaking Son for a masked vigilante as he’s been wearing a superhero-like mask at the 2022 World Cup.

And no, it’s not part of some elaborate celebration routine. Son is wearing the mask – which covers his eyes and nose – as a protective measure.

The 30-year-old suffered a fractured eye socket during Tottenham’s win against Marseille in the Champions League on November 1 and therefore faced a race to be fit to feature in Qatar.

Such is the level of medical science, Son has not only recovered in time – with the help of the mask – but has also played every single minute as South Korea qualified for the knockout phase of the competition following a dramatic 2-1 upset win over Portugal.

After playing in Korea’s opening game of the World Cup against Uruguay – the first in the mask – Son said he felt “comfortable.”