Choe Il-son

Choe Il-son
최일선
Personal information
Date of birth (2007-01-01) 1 January 2007
Place of birth Kwail County, North Korea
Height 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)
Position Striker
Team information
Current team
 April 25
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– April 25
International career‡
2024 North Korea U17 11 (7)
2024– North Korea U20 12 (7)
2025– North Korea 4 (0)
Medal record
Women's football
Representing  North Korea
AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup
Winner Indonesia 2024
AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup
Winner Uzbekistan 2024
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
Winner Dominican Republic 2024
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Winner Colombia 2024
* Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals as of 19 March 2026

Choe Il-son (Korean: 최일선; born 1 January 2007) is a North Korean professional footballer who plays as a Striker for April 25 and the North Korean national team.[1]

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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5][6] a month later, she got selected for the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.[7]

On 16 October 2025, Choe was named the AFC Women's Youth Player of the Year at the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025.[8]

On 27th and 30th of November 2025, Choe was an unsused substitute for the North Korea squad that faced Russia in two friendly games hosted in Pyongyang.[9]

In February 2026, Choe was named in the final North Korean squad for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup.[1] She made her national team debut in the second group stage game of the tournament against Bangladesh and delivered an assist for Kim Kyong-yong for the team's fourth goal, as North Korea win 5–0.[10]

Honours

North Korea U17

North Korea U20

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/teams/2026/afc_womens_asian_cup/korea-dpr
  2. ^ "AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup 2024 squad / DPR Korea" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Buoyant Choe expects to do more of the same for DPR Korea". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  4. ^ "DPR Korea's Choe back at her goal-scoring best". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Brilliant Choe Il-son wins two individual awards". fifa.com. FIFA. 22 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  6. ^ "일본 꺾고 통산 3번째 우승…최일선 'MVP · 득점왕'" [Defeating Japan to claim their third title... Choe Il-son 'MVP · Top Scorer]. m.news.nate.com (in Korean). 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Choe Il-son: We can win any title we fight for". fifa.com. FIFA. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  8. ^ "AFC Youth Player of the Year (Women) 2025: Choe Il Son". Riyadh: Asian Football Confederation. 16 October 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Матч: КНДР 5:2 Россия". Российский футбольный союз.
  10. ^ "Group B: Bangladesh 0-5 DPR Korea". Asian Football Confederation. 6 March 2026.
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