Son Heung-min
Who was Son Heung-min?
South Korean footballer who plays as a forward for Tottenham Hotspur and captains the national team, becoming one of Asia's most successful players in European football.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Son Heung-min (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Son Heung-min, born on July 8, 1992, in Chuncheon, South Korea, is often seen as the greatest Asian footballer ever. He plays as a left winger and leads the South Korea national team. Known for his speed, precise finishing, strong use of both feet, and skill in playmaking, he holds the record for being the top Asian goal scorer in both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League. Moving from a teenager in Germany to a celebrated captain winning European trophies shows his incredible journey in the sport.
At 16, Son moved to Germany to join Hamburger SV, debuting in the Bundesliga in 2010. His talent led to a transfer to Bayer Leverkusen in 2013 for a club record fee of €10 million at the time. Two years later, Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League signed him, and he gained international fame in north London. He was key in Spurs' journey to the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League final and the 2020–21 EFL Cup final. In the 2019–20 season, he scored an amazing solo goal that won him the FIFA Puskás Award for the most beautiful goal of the year.
The 2021–22 Premier League season was a standout for Son as he shared the Golden Boot with 23 goals, making him the first Asian player to win it. In April 2023, he became the first Asian to score 100 Premier League goals. That year, he was also named captain of Tottenham Hotspur. In 2025, he led Spurs to a UEFA Europa League victory, giving the club its first major trophy in 17 years and earning Son his first major club honor.
Internationally, Son has played for South Korea since 2010, appearing in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 FIFA World Cups. He is tied as South Korea's top World Cup scorer alongside Park Ji-sung and Ahn Jung-hwan with three goals. He was part of the team that won gold at the 2018 Asian Games and has played in four AFC Asian Cup tournaments in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023, with South Korea reaching the final in 2015.
Beyond his achievements on the field, Son is a cultural icon in South Korea and is considered a source of national pride. He has been on Forbes Korea's Power Celebrity 40 list every year since 2019. In 2025, he began a new chapter by joining Major League Soccer's Los Angeles FC, further transforming expectations of what Asian players can achieve in European football.
Before Fame
Son Heung-min grew up in Chuncheon, a city in Gangwon Province, South Korea. His father, Son Woong-jung, a former professional footballer, sparked his early interest in football and became his main coach and trainer. Known for insisting on rigorous training methods, his father focused on the basics, making sure Son developed equal skills with both feet—a talent that later became one of Son's standout qualities. Son went to Dongbuk High School, where he continued improving as a player and started catching the eye of international clubs.
At 16, Son made a bold move to Hamburg, Germany, to join the youth academy of Hamburger SV. Moving by himself to a new country, learning a new language, and adjusting to a different football culture were tough challenges for him as a teenager. His determination during this time was crucial, and he quickly moved up through Hamburg's youth ranks, eventually earning a spot on the senior team. He made his Bundesliga debut in 2010 at just 17 years old.
Key Achievements
- First Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot, achieving the feat jointly with 23 goals in the 2021–22 season
- First Asian player to score 100 Premier League goals, reaching the milestone in April 2023
- Top Asian goalscorer in both Premier League and UEFA Champions League history
- Won the FIFA Puskás Award in 2020 for his solo goal against Burnley
- Led Tottenham Hotspur to the 2025 UEFA Europa League title, the club's first major trophy in 17 years
Did You Know?
- 01.Son's father, Son Woong-jung, reportedly had his son practice with both feet from an extremely young age and restricted use of the stronger foot to ensure balanced development, which contributed directly to Son's celebrated two-footedness.
- 02.Son's 2019–20 Premier League solo goal, which began inside his own half against Burnley and involved him dribbling past multiple defenders before finishing, was awarded the FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal of the year.
- 03.By winning the Premier League Golden Boot jointly in 2021–22 with 23 goals, Son became the first and, to date, only Asian player to claim that individual honor in England's top division.
- 04.Son completed his mandatory South Korean military service obligations by participating in the 2018 Asian Games, where South Korea won the gold medal; gold medal winners at the Games are exempt from the standard two-year military service requirement.
- 05.Son scored the first goal ever recorded at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which opened in April 2019, netting against Crystal Palace in the first Premier League match at the new ground.