Choe Il-son
{{Short description|North Korean footballer (born 2007)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Choe Il-son
최일선
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2007|01|01|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kwail-ŭp, Kwail County North Korea
| height = 1.58 m
| currentclub = April 25
| clubnumber =
| position = Striker
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 2024–
| clubs1 = April 25
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| nationalyears1 = 2024
| nationalteam1 = North Korea U17
| nationalcaps1 = 11
| nationalgoals1 = 7
| nationalyears2 = 2024–
| nationalteam2 = North Korea U20
| nationalcaps2 = 12
| nationalgoals2 = 7
| club-update =
| nationalteam-update = 3 November 2024
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Women's football}}
{{MedalCountry | {{PRK}} }}
{{Medal|Competition|AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup}}
{{medal|W|Indonesia 2024|}}
{{Medal|Competition|AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup}}
{{medal|W|Uzbekistan 2024|}}
{{Medal|Competition|FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup}}
{{medal|W|Dominican Republic 2024|}}
{{Medal|Competition|FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup}}
{{medal|W|Colombia 2024|}}
}}
Choe Il-son ({{langx|ko|최일선}}; born 1 January 2007) is a North Korean professional footballer who plays as a Striker for April 25 and the North Korean national youth teams.{{cite web |url=https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/sports/soccer/1159233.html|title=일본 떨게 만든 '17살 여자 메시' 최일선…북한 20살 월드컵 세번째 정상|language=ko|trans-title=Choe Il-son, the '17-year-old female Messi' who made Japan tremble… North Korea wins the U-20 Women's World Cup for the third time.|date=23 September 2024|website=hani.co.kr|access-date=23 September 2024}}
International career
Aged 17 in March 2024, Choe was selected to join the North Korea under-20 team for the 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup.{{cite web |url=https://assets.the-afc.com/2024_AFC_U20_Womens_Asian_Cup/Downloads/AFC-U20-Women's-Asian-Cup%E2%84%A2-Uzbekistan-2024---Squad-Lists.pdf|title=AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup 2024 squad / DPR Korea|date=2 March 2024|website=the-afc.com|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|access-date=23 September 2024}} She featured in all five matches of the tournament, helping North Korea secure the championship title. In the semifinals, she scored the opening goal against rivals South Korea.{{cite web |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u20_womens_asian_cup/news/buoyant_choe_expects_to_do_more_of_the_same_for_dpr_korea.html|title=Buoyant Choe expects to do more of the same for DPR Korea|date=14 March 2024|website=the-afc.com|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|access-date=23 September 2024}}
Two months later, she was named to the final squad for the 2024 AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup in Indonesia. She helped North Korea win their fourth title, scoring 5 goals against hosts Indonesia.{{cite web |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u17_womens_asian_cup/news/dpr_koreas_choe_back_at_her_goal-scoring_best_1.html|title=DPR Korea's Choe back at her goal-scoring best|date=15 May 2024|website=the-AFC.com|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|access-date=23 September 2024}}
In September 2024, she was selected for the final squad of the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. She played a crucial role in North Korea's third world title, scoring six goals to claim the Golden Boot, including the only goal in the final against Japan. She was also named the tournament's best player, earning the Golden Ball.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/womens/u20womensworldcup/colombia-2024/articles/korea-dpr-choe-il-son-golden-ball-boot|title=Brilliant Choe Il-son wins two individual awards|date=22 September 2024|website=fifa.com|publisher=FIFA|access-date=23 September 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://m.news.nate.com/view/20240923n34993|title=일본 꺾고 통산 3번째 우승…최일선 'MVP · 득점왕'|language=ko|trans-title=Defeating Japan to claim their third title... Choe Il-son 'MVP · Top Scorer|date=23 September 2024|website=m.news.nate.com|access-date=23 September 2024}} a month later, she got selected for the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/womens/u17womensworldcup/dominican-republic-2024/articles/choe-il-son-profile|title=Choe Il-son: We can win any title we fight for|date=15 October 2024|website=fifa.com|publisher=FIFA|access-date=22 October 2024}}
Honours
North Korea U17
North Korea U20
Individual
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{GSA player|choe-il-son/587895}}
- {{Soccerway|il-son-choe/953694}}
- {{WorldFootball.net|il-son-choe}}
- [https://www.sofascore.com/player/il-son-choe/1818968 Choe Il-Son] at Sofascore
- [https://www.eurosport.com/football/il-son-choe_prs706873/person.shtml Choe Il-Son] at Eurosport
{{FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup awards}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Choe, Il-son}}
Category:North Korean women's footballers
Category:21st-century North Korean sportswomen